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2421 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 5:24 PM
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Interesting article in this month's National Geographic about injuries and deaths in the US national parks. And you thought bears were the biggest danger!
Highlights:
275 million people visit the US parks every year.
Deadliest parks (Fatalities 2007-2011):
Lake Mead Recreation Area, 65 deaths
Grand Canyon, 42 deaths (mostly Heat Exhaustion), over 250 rescues
Yosemite, 42 deaths
Glen Canyon Recreation Area, 31 deaths
Golden Gate Recreation Area, 29 deaths
Mt McKinley (Denali), 26 deaths.
Causes of deaths (percentage):
Drowning 37%
Motor Vehicle Accidents 23%
Falls 18%
Exposure (Heat/Cold) 4%
Plane Crash 3%
Avalanche 2%
Bicycle Accidents 1%
Poisoning 0.9%
Animal Attacks 0.6%
"The most common mistake is not realizing the hazards are real and unforgiving." Ken Phillips, Emergency Services Chief at the Grand Canyon. There is also a poster showing a 'cool young dude' with the caption saying there are over 250 rescues every year there, and that most of the victims look just like him.
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| piika
Intermediate Member
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Burnaby, BC
Canada
733 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 5:37 PM
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Yep, just like him:
I figured I was okay, since I don't have a soul patch.  |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 9:47 PM
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I think what concerns people a lot is when their fate is out of their hands.
Different risks can be managed to different extents, and people seem to fear more those that they can't control.
Considering the list:
-I don't fear drowning. I am a strong swimmer, wear a lifejacket in appropriate waters, and don't approach sketchy edges. The only way i am likely to drown is if I do something stupid - so I'm not concerned.
-cars, for whatever reason, people are sufficiently comfortable with to ignore all risks. might not make any sense, but that's how it is.
-falls - again, can be managed. people can either not take risks, or can educate themselves and take only the amount of risk that they are comfortable with.
-exposure - can largely be prevented by appropriate planning. I fear frostbite a little, but I don't fear hypothermia and heat stroke, because I know what to do to avoid them.
-plane crashes are that common?
-avalanches are an area that requires an amount of risk no matter how well you do - but people can select their comfort level again.
With bears, many people are terrified when they don't know anything about them. Once people learn to recognise bear habits, and understand their actions, the fear usually goes down. But I suspect that a lot of the remaining associated fear is because there's only so much you can control. even when people make noise, they may happen to run into a bear. even if they do everything right, the bear may be in a bad mood. i think it's that level of uncertainty and lack of control that makes them scary.
that is, of course, after the initial fear that just comes from lack of understanding.
Is the Golden Gate Recreation Area the bridge? And are we including suicides from the bridge? I bet that would skew the numbers... |
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Langley
239 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 9:54 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by RacheloIs the Golden Gate Recreation Area the bridge? And are we including suicides from the bridge? I bet that would skew the numbers...
I thought the same thing, but its not. The bridge is administrated separately from the rec area. And I was shocked to see that the number of suicides is estimated at 2 every month. |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7098 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 10:46 PM
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Very interesting statistics for national park deaths.
The number of the golden gate rec area deaths could be skewed if the jumpers on the bridge did in fact land in the recreation area  |
Edited by - AcesHigh on 05/11/2012 10:47 PM |
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Mysterious, pop can stove stashin', gps totin', overnighter virgin, wannabe tentmaker and foul weather wuss who rides a thumper to the trailhead with wonderdog Max to hike the Chilliwack Valley
Chwk
Canada
4908 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 2:45 PM
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FACT: More people are killed by DEER every year, than by bears and cougars combined!
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 4:19 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by another jeff
quote:
Originally posted by RacheloIs the Golden Gate Recreation Area the bridge? And are we including suicides from the bridge? I bet that would skew the numbers...
I thought the same thing, but its not. The bridge is administrated separately from the rec area. And I was shocked to see that the number of suicides is estimated at 2 every month.
Oh, that's good. I knew there were piles of suicides all the time, so I was thinking that it would give a fairly inaccurate number of the recreation are if that were so. |
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3505 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 7:43 PM
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| Plane crashes includes non-commercial flying. That is actually pretty dangerous. (hang gliders, paragliders, etc are in that group) |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 8:50 PM
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| FYI Lake Mead is a big power boat/drinking party place. Lots of drownings with drunkenness as a contributing factor. |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 12:28 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by TheShadow
FACT: More people are killed by DEER every year, than by bears and cougars combined!
Blood-thirsty monsters!
So THAT's why they keep jumping out in front of trucks - kind of an animal version of suicide-bombers. |
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And you thought bears were dangerous....
