Study: Is a backpack as good as a parachute?

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A recent study published in a medical journal claims that a parachute is no more effective than an empty backpack for safety when jumping from an aircraft. However, the study's design involved aircraft that were parked on the ground, with a free-fall height of less than one meter, highlighting issues with scientific methodology and the importance of context in research. The discussion emphasizes the need for proper training and knowledge about parachuting, suggesting that understanding how to use a parachute is crucial for safety. The conversation also includes humorous anecdotes to illustrate the absurdity of the study's premise. Overall, the thread critiques the study while underscoring the significance of rigorous scientific practices.
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Is a backpack as good as a parachute when jumping out of a plane?

https://www.npr.org/sections/health...show-parachutes-dont-work-but-there-s-a-catch

"Research published in a major medical journal concludes that a parachute is no more effective than an empty backpack at protecting you from harm if you have to jump from an aircraft."

parachute_custom-14f30a9f6c9cd40ce0c2079732f3cf6122206945-s1600-c85.jpg


If you're skeptical, you should be. This study was, more than anything, making a point about scientific method and the danger of overlooking details in actual research.

(Link to study: https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094)

[Edit: Cutting to the chase, if you haven't read the article: although not immediately obvious in the study, the aircraft used were, for both control and experimental groups, parked on the ground during the experiment. The height of the free-fall was less than 1 m.]
 

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This one reminds me of a joke about 6 people on a plane including a couple important dignitaries, along with the world's smartest man, and a hippie and a boy scout. The plane runs out of gas and they only have 5 parachutes. The dignitaries and the pilot took the first 3 parachutes, and jumped out, and then the world's smartest man argued that he should also get one, leaving the hippie and the boy scout with just one parachute between them. "Not to worry", the hippie tells the boy scout="I just gave my backpack to the world's smartest man." ## \\ ## In any case, in responding to the OP, I do think that it would help to have some training in what to do with a parachute, , as well as how to exit the plane, in the event you needed to parachute from a plane.
 
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This is like the study that shows that listening to "When I'm 64" actually makes you younger. Not feel younger. Actually be younger. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611417632 (p=0.04)
 
Now I'm concerned. Did the helpful hippie and the boy scout learn to glide the aircraft? Or gently float to terra firma in each other's embrace on a single 'chute (like GHW Bush on his 99th birthday)?

Postscript: lost count of the parachutes in all the excitement :-).
 
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Klystron said:
Postscript: lost count of the parachutes in all the excitement :-).
I guess he feels lucky today.
 
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collinsmark said:
Is a backpack as good as a parachute when jumping out of a plane?

https://www.npr.org/sections/health...show-parachutes-dont-work-but-there-s-a-catch

"Research published in a major medical journal concludes that a parachute is no more effective than an empty backpack at protecting you from harm if you have to jump from an aircraft."

View attachment 236221

If you're skeptical, you should be. This study was, more than anything, making a point about scientific method and the danger of overlooking details in actual research.

(Link to study: https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094)

[Edit: Cutting to the chase, if you haven't read the article: although not immediately obvious in the study, the aircraft used were, for both control and experimental groups, parked on the ground during the experiment. The height of the free-fall was less than 1 m.]
what a total laugh haha

This study was, more than anything, making a point about scientific method and the danger of overlooking details in actual research
.

indeed it does :)
 
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