Abstract
All parachute injuries from two local parachute centres over a 5-year period were
analysed.
Of 174 patients with injuries of varying severity, 94% were first-time charity-parachutists.
The injury rate in charity-parachutists was 11% at an average cost of £3751 per casualty.
Sixty-three percent of casualties who were charity-parachutists required hospital
admission, representing a serious injury rate of 7%, at an average cost of £5781 per
patient. The amount raised per person for charity was £30. Each pound raised for charity
cost the NHS £13.75 in return.
Parachuting for charity costs more money than it raises, carries a high risk of serious
personal injury and places a significant burden on health resources.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 11,
1998
Identification
Copyright
© 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
