Things you would do and wouldn't do because of the risk involved

[cakeorwine]

Following up on discussions elsewhere about the Titan sub - and risk evaluation, understanding the risks and the safety precautions in the activity to ensure that the risks were mitigated.

I've done scuba diving in deep ship wrecks - actually going into a wreck. Looking back, it was probably quite risky - it was deep and I am not sure that the nearest decompression chamber was that close. But I was young and it was one hell of an experience.

But I wouldn't do bunjee jumping. I would worry about my eyes and retina.

Someone on another thread mentioned going in a hot air balloon. I would do that but they wouldn't. I guess that if those go wrong, there is a chance of plunging to death.

So what would to do / not do that others might consider risky or others would consider absolutely fine.

I think pre-children I would definitely take more risks than I would now as I feel a strange sort of duty to stay alive to take care of them 😄 so I would say now I'm pretty risk averse generally. Helps that I've never had any real desire to throw myself off things or out of planes etc.
I have been in a hot air balloon, been skiing, abseiled, been in a helicopter etc but now I have 2 young children I am much more likely to err on the side of caution.

This is a really interesting thread!
I used to do scuba diving too but haven't for years. I'm sure some of the dive shops were slightly questionable safety-wise and definitely very remote.
Agree would also not do bungee jumping due to the risk of retinal damage.
Pre DC I would horse ride and ski (fast) without a helmet! Would never do that now.
I also have quite a strong desire to climb Everest but if I ever do would be once my DC are grown up.
Definitely want to do the Marathon des Sables but again will wait, hopefully I'll still be fit enough (I'll be 46 when DC are over 18). I don't think that's even that dangerous but not exactly mainstream either!

Everest trekking was great - but it was interesting to see the risks some people were taking up there.

I met some people who had been in Khatmandu and decided to go trekking in the Himalaya - in the winter months but without suitable clothing, shoes etc. It was just a touristy thing to do. I also met people who had booked a 3 week holiday to go to base camp and were ignoring the symptoms of altitude sickness because they wanted to achieve their goal of base camp.

Mind you - I think sometimes people are oblivious of the risk they put themselves in. I've met people in the Lakes trekking who would be in serious trouble if the weather changed. Relying on a mobile phone, no rain gear, lack of suitable footwear.

Wow you guys are in a whole different zone to me.. I don't even like big rollercoasters let alone mountain climbing, pot holing and the like! Saying that i have climbed snow down and was amazed at the people climbing in primark flip flops etc

I would never do pot holing. It looks interesting but the idea of being stuck under a lot of rock freaks me out.

Same for people who do cave diving - I know they carry multiple kit just in case something goes wrong - but you just can't surface easily.

I don't think I would do pot holing or cave diving either. Have done a wreck dive once but that seems a lot safer.

I’m very risk averse, even more so since having kids.

Used to do horse riding, don’t now as concerned about head injury.

Wouldn’t bungee, even as a teen, though I did go parasending (amazing) and once booked a parachute jump (though it was cancelled due to fog).

Wouldn’t go deep or cave diving but shallow scuba would be fine. Pot holing no. Sea swimming, coasteering - yes.

I hate flying. I hate the feeing of not being in control of what I would do if things my wrong.

I would not, ever, consider travel in a deadly place in an experimental vessel.

I did a skydive a few years ago, definitely the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t even enjoy it and 100% would never do it again. DH loved it and would love to do it again!

I’ve also done cliff jumping, jumping from quite high heights into water. I was younger and doubt I’d do it now.

The thought of bungee jumping fills me with terror.

I love the sea and would like to try scuba diving at some point!

Parachute jumping, pot holing /caving, bungee jumping. Basically anything that involves hurling myself into the air or squeezing into a confined space.

I would (and did) do Everest but I turned down the opportunity to go to North Korea for safety concerns and I wouldn't consider bungee jumping.

Happy to do mountain walking in the UK but with proper boots, kit, spare clothing etc. Frightens me to death when I see people on some of the fells in Lakeland, Snowdonia etc in shorts and trainers.

Even in mid-summer cloud can come down pretty quickly and bring hail and near freezing local temperatures.

Perhaps less of a danger as it's not sudden onset but you'd be amazed how often, while it's Sylvan down in the Vale of Keswick, there can be 70 mph winds on Skiddaw's summit.

At least twice I've had to crawl on hands/knees into the lee of the ridge before being able to stand.

I've pretty much never worn a helmet while cycling. My head, my shout.

I did a parachute jump when younger. We trained for a weekend on how to land and then jumped out of a perfectly good plane - but it opened by itself.

I guess that I took the attitude that lots and lots of people have jumped this way and survived. There was a reserve chute as well.

Would I do it now? Yes - I think I would. DS is older now.

I watch Saving Lives at sea - and you can just see how a lack of knowledge or a lack of preparedness can get people into trouble.

Not knowing about tides.
Not knowing that wind can really shift inflatables out to sea.
Going out in a kayak without thinking about how you could attract attention if you had an issue - such as having a personal locator beacon.

Saying that - we had an issue diving in the Red Sea and we drifted a long way from our dive boat. We had left the marker buoy in the hotel - and it's very hard to be seen when you are just a head in the water. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I wouldn't do any of those things, but equally don't have any desire to do them at all so it isn't as though there is a conflict or a decision to make for me. I can't think of anything worse than jumping out of a plane or going into deep water.

I'm pretty risk averse and have also spent a fair bit of time in hospital in my life due to illness so I think there's also just that ongoing reminder of how inconvenient/painful/mentally challenging it all is and not wanting to be in a situation that would lead to repeat circumstance or any potential disability.

My friend had a terrible experience at MDS this year - the actual temperature being much hotter than publicly admitted, plus inexpert medical care on site has had a lasting impact on their health. I suspect the race organisers may have been piqued by the press about the race being mostly a desert camping trip, and dialled up the difficulty; the DNF rate was much higher this year.
There are better self sufficiency ultras to aim for; the desert is beautiful but not worth the risk.

I have never wanted to pot hole, bungee jump, parachute, scuba dive.

I don't consider mountain walking dangerous if you know what you are doing, check the weather and take the right gear - it must be very rare for someone experienced + careful to need to be rescued as we do have pretty good weather forecasting so by following that your odds improve massively.

I do horse ride and whilst I don't do these, I could imagine skiing/mountain biking/motorbiking.

I was reading this thinking wouldn't do any of those things. I feel a bit panicky just thinking about going in small spaces and i could never bungee jump or sky dive. I was feeling like I'm a total wimp.

But then I remembered that I rode and handled race horses for years which is all about speed and can be pretty dangerous and a lot of people would be scared to do that. So maybe I'm braver than I think.

There are lots of things I wouldn't do, partly because I'm claustrophobic. I've gone on a tourist sub in the Canaries, but I would NEVER go on any kind of deep-sea sub. I've done scuba, but only very shallow on the Great Barrier Reef. I'd never bungee jump - argh terrifying - or do a parachute jump - ditto. I would do a zip line, but not one of the very high or super fast ones. I have no wish to go mountaineering - people who pay guides to basically drag them up Everest are crazy IMO. I've read 'Into Thin Air' and 'No Way Down' and 'Touching the Void' and that is as close as I'm getting to any mountaineering experience!

Well I don't like water, won't even paddle in the sea. Water terrifies me.

I'm scared of heights so jumping out of anything/ hot air balloon is a no no.

I'm also claustrophobic so cave diving petrifies me.

I like to keep my feet on land and I have no desire to do anything extreme. Not even a rollercoaster 🤦🏻‍♀️

I've gone on a tourist sub in the Canaries, but I would NEVER go on any kind of deep-sea sub

Well that sounds exciting!! Just looked that up!! And no need to worry about having to decompress on the way up.

I wonder if the Titan disaster will affect bookings?

It doesn't look too expensive for the actual experience.

I've flown in a helicopter and I'd love to do that again. But the thought of jumping out of an aircraft terrifies me. I loved fairground rides when I was young but wouldn't go on most of them now.

I'd never in a million years climb a bridge, bungee jump, abseil and so on. I'd love to take a hot air balloon flight, though!

@gwenneh that's interesting, I haven't done any research into it yet but know lots of people who have completed it. No one mentioned the DNF rate this year!

I won’t even sit in the back of a car 😕

Bromptotoo · Today 11:20

Perhaps less of a danger as it's not sudden onset but you'd be amazed how often, while it's Sylvan down in the Vale of Keswick, there can be 70 mph winds on Skiddaw's summit.

I spent 5 weeks camping in the area, whilst mapping Carrock Fell form my geology degree. It rained heavily every single day and when got back to my cousin's in Greystoke, they'd trill on about what a nice day it had been!