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General Climbing Discussion

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Babies at crags 7-Aug-2010 At 8:21:56 AM TonyB

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On 6/08/2010 One Day Hero wrote:
>BTW, "several meters" is a joke as a safe distance.

Yes, most of us have probably seen how falling rocks can explode on impact however I never feel "unsafe" at the base of crags. Falling rocks can kill adults as surely as children. I do take precautions to minimise the risk of injury from climbers dislodging rocks. Eroding sea cliffs are more dangerous but how many rock fishermen have been killed by falling rocks ? (Rock fishing of course is the most hazardous of all sports.)

While I never feel unsafe just being at a crag, I often feel much more unsafe, driving to crags and sharing the road with lunatics driving with P plates, or taxis and utes. However, child accident statistics show twice the danger from drowning as being on our roads. Surprisingly, even greater danger comes from assault, although babies with step parents are 100 times more at risk than those fortunate enough to have natural parents.

At the highest risk, 5 times the risk of injury on the roads, comes accidental ingestion. Those with babies know that they put absolutely everything into their mouths. In other words, babies are probably at far greater risk from trying to eat a rock than being hit on the head by one !