Lead Climbing Injuries - Injuries From Falling

Injuries From Falling

Lead falls are dangerous because the climber can fall twice the length of the rope between him and his last piece of protection. Thus, a climber who is 5 feet above his protection will fall 10 feet. The fall can produce significant force on his midsection, where the climbing rope is tied to his harness. Injuries from falling come in many forms. They range from mild skin abrasions to death. As rock climbing has become more popular, several studies have been published documenting the frequency and severity of injuries sustained by rock climbers in various circumstances. Each study provides slightly different information due to the differences in methods in obtaining data. One problem with all of the studies is that injuries are not always reported; therefore, it is difficult to determine how many climbers were actually injured because there is no way to determine how many climbers climbed in the given areas during the times the studies were conducted.