Why Not Bombs Or Flips?
Lifeguards are always getting complaints from swim customers about them not being able to do bombs or flips from the edge of the pool.
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| Photo by Katherine Auguste on Unsplash |
Some Pools have a diving board but even those pools usually don't allow Bombs and Flips. Many pools in Australia have eliminated them because of the huge insurance cost associated with due to the significant injury rate. Add to that the maintenance cost, as well as poor safety record associated with undertraining and the irresponsibility of users and you, have an undesirable piece of equipment.
Most people assume that the only reason that swim patrons are not allowed to do Bombs and Flips is because of the disruption that the splashing causes other swimmers. Or because the owners of the pool are killjoys. The last reason is often the reason given as to why swimmers ignore lifeguard instructions.
The fact is that there is a significant risk associated with Bombs and Flips. And although there is a disturbance factor it is just not true that it is the main reason.
Notoriously Oblivious
Firstly people doing bombs and Flips are notoriously oblivious to other swimmers. The result of this is that because they don't look they regularly land on other swimmers and injure, both themselves and the other swimmer, with the other swimmer nearly always coming off worse.
"I'll Look"; "I'll be careful," they say but they don't and they are not, and even if they were that is not the only reason.
With both Bombs and Flips, there is a spinning action both before and after the water has been entered. It's this spinning action that is the greatest threat. Even those trained in diving know that there is an inherent risk in any spinning action when entering the water. Disorientation will always result from a spin; after all that is some of the attraction isn't it. The edge of the pool will too often just insist on being where it was not expected and wham you have heads being hit on the edge of the pool.
If we were just concerned about a little bump on the head then perhaps banning would be an overreaction. But it's way more than a little bump on the head, it is potentially a major trauma to the brain and skull and spinal injury to boot.
Considers The Consequences
So the next time you think about defying the "no bombing or flips" rule considers the consequences. If not for yourself then for your family and the poor lifeguards who have to deal with it.
Enjoy
Richard
Back on December 1 2016, I received the following comment on this post. The author has since gone dark creating a broken link for me. However I thought the comment and my response was worthwhile keeping so I have included it here.
ReplyDeleteAnthony: "This is bullshit I don't know anyone who has landed on anyone else or hurt their head from bombing."
Me: G'day, Anthony,
Your reaction is a very common one from swimmers who have never had to deal with the trauma associated with injuries resulting for bombs or flips.
One of the things that I learned when I was doing market research, was that no matter how much data I accumulated in my area, I was often surprised that the final result was different from what I perceived.
Whilst I'm sure your social world is extensive, your perception is not reflected in the horrendous injury statistics associated with flips and bombs.
At our pool, when the patronage is low, I will sometimes allow swimmers that I know to be responsible and who will therefore obey instructions, to jump into the pool with their legs tucked up in a bomb like fashion as long as they hold their arms open and do NOT grab their legs. This allows for a controlled entry into the water. However I never allow flips.
Unfortunately for me Anthony I know the hurt and from bombing injuries. But thank you for taking the time to read and comment. It shows that you are a thinker and hopefully you will change you mind without having to experience any of the pain.