It is estimated that over half of people that fall from a height of four stories are killed. Of those that do survive, many made it because they avoided injuring vital organs by landing on their feet, rather than on their head or their back. Unfortunately, under most circumstances you will have little to say about how you fall, what you have with you when you fall, and where you land, but exerting even the smallest amount of control over these elements of falling can make the difference in survival or death.
Slowing the Descent – Wind Resistance
If you are falling only forty or fifty feet the ride ends pretty quickly. But falls from heights of several hundred feet last several seconds. Alcides Moreno, a New York City window washer, fell about 500 feet and lived to tell about out it.
There are several theories on how he survived the fall, but most are centered around the idea that he grabbed onto the scaffolding that gave way. The scaffolding acted as a giant sail, increasing Moreno’s surface area and thereby increasing the wind resistance experience during the fall. If you find yourself in a similar situation look for something to take down with you. A board, a sign, anything bigger than your are can help slow down your descent. It may not seem like much, but the difference in reaching terminal velocity before hitting the ground and anything less significantly reduces your chances of survival.
The Landing Spot
Obviously, you may not have the time or the ability to choose where you fall. However, if you have at least an ounce of control over where you are falling, there are a couple things to look out for.
- Avoid landing on concrete. The stuff just doesn’t give.
- Look for an area clear of debris. Many people would have survived falls were it not for the fence post that impaled them, or the jagged rock that punctured a vital organ.
- Avoid people. If you have to jump to avoid being burned to death, or otherwise mamed, try to jump clear of others. No sense in taking out two people.
- Grassy, soft areas are ideal. Again, if you have a say in where you fall, go for the green stuff.
Best Body Position for Landing From a High Fall
Most deaths from high falls are caused by severe head trauma. The second leading killer is trauma to the pelvis, which encapsulates major organs and blood vessels that when injured can lead to significant internal bleeding. Your best chance of survival is to keep your head the furthest away from the ground on landing, which usually means a standing position. Keep your knees slightly bent and relaxed to act as shock absorbers.
Try to stick the landing on the balls of your feet. Chances are this position will shatter your lower extremities, breaking legs and ankles and possibly even hip bones, but as a last resort it gives you the highest chance of surviving a high fall.
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