wingnut 0 #1 October 10, 2004 justabill's thread about going to the dz spawned this. iknow it's probly been covered before but i ant to rehash it again in it's own thread to get curent views not older ones that are alredy here. yesterday was just another time... it isn't the first,it is one of many times....... okay so i'm at the dz yetserday and there are a milion kids around.. most are beeing watched.... but the spectator areas is close to the path of travel of the plane, we all know besides a jet plane (and then they are a big vacum mulcher) they all have a very nice meat grinder on the front called a prop. a twin otter might be high enough to let a kid walk under it but the grand caravan we have will not. i had to step in and move a couple kids across the turn area cuz thier parents weren't watching them. i hope that the pilot would of saw them but the front head on vison is not good as we all should know.... it was nerve racking to have them out there becasue as i am not liable i wouldn't feel right if i had let them just stand in the way and get hit........same kids were also running all over the place stepping on lines and canopies.... if one of em had had a soda ( or other such liquid) and spilled it on my canopy i know thier parents wouldn't of been my friend that day.....and they would of definatly know it!!! and another kid had himself wraped up in the rope seprating the turn area from the spectator area, he had it wraped around his neck!!! it is only the yellow caution tape so it had some give, but still way too strong to break before he would of passed out.... when i noticed it, his face was alredy beet red! one of the jumpers talking to me saw it to and went over to help the kid get untangled as i went to find out where his parents where... guess what, they were right next to him not even paying atention.. they were suprised when i told them thier son was being choked.. when they took the two steps to him he was still red and about in tears...... his brother was hanging on the tape he was wraped up in putting more pressure on him.........it wouldn't take much pressure on a little ones throte to make him pass out,.... that wouldn't of been cool!!!!!!!! he was about 4 or so....his brother was probly 5 or 6 so i guess i know i don't have kids myself but i know that i would not bring them to the dz unless they were either being watched full time by someone who is doing that exclusivley or just stay at home.......... i know when i probly have kids in the next years i'll be at the dz less untill they are old enough to stay out of trouble them selves or stay at home with a sitter or wife......... oh almost forgotto add, all these children were spectators/tandem's kids.... i have hardley if at all seen a jumpers kids get into trouble at a dz withthis kind of stuff... p.s. if you know my normal posts they are full of typos and missed spaces between words, if you look at this you will see i took the time to go back through and proof read it... that shold tell you how strong i feel about this.......(yeah i know there are still mispellings but i'm not going to bust out the dictionary) ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #2 October 10, 2004 What you described is just terrible... -but to show the other side of the coin... I have brought my 8 yo daughter with me to the DZ twice while I was working a booth and jumping, but she is one of the most mature and polite children you'd ever meet. (And I also brought one of our care-givers as well). She knows about lines; she helps us pack sometimes...minor stuff, but boy does she dig it, she knows planes, and she knows exactly where she is to be when, and who she can ask questions of if I have stepped away -and I clear it with that adult too to make sure it wouldn't be an inconvenience, and I ask the DZO first. The staff likes having 'Energy Girl' out there as she always brings the packers, TM's, JM's, and manifest free energy drinks and water. Like I said, it's only been twice, and I don't intend on making a habit of it. And I make sure that she is exactly where she is supposed to be at all times. Then again Wingi, she is a bit older, and like I said she is an exceptionally mature child (no IDEA where she got that from ) and is kind of a junior helper out there... But when she got tired and hungry, I packed up my stuff and took her to lunch and then home. I'm not going to force the Sprouty to be on a DZ just for my sake. It can get to be too much and a little boring for a kid her age anyhoo... In contrast, my 7 year old twin boys are far too rowdy to be at the DZ. I wouldn't bring them out without at least 2 adults EXTRA...one for each boy...and then they would have about a 1 hour limit. Drives me nuts though when little 'uns are in harms way and parents don't seem to mind...happens at junior soccer games, birthday parties...oy. ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #3 October 11, 2004 Quotebut to show the other side of the coin if ya see this is what i wrote... Quote.... i have hardley if at all seen a jumpers kids get into trouble at a dz withthis kind of stuff... it's not the jumpers kids that get to me and are trouble normally...... for some strange reason the kids seem to be more mature than the adults sometime...lol...... ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #4 October 11, 2004 Quotefor some strange reason the kids seem to be more mature than the adults sometime...lol...... That's just because the kids don't drink and the kids can entertain themselves without very dangerous games that envolve high wind, parachutes, creepers, bungy cords and beer.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #5 October 11, 2004 Quotecan entertain themselves without very dangerous games that envolve high wind, parachutes, creepers, bungy cords and beer. you forgot firearms and high order explosives.......... ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #6 October 11, 2004 Explosives...yada yada yada...and beer.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lightningbugirl 0 #7 October 11, 2004 I notice always that jumper's kids are usually very aware - it's tandem student's kids we always find running about and walking into the darn runway. It should be something that is told to them when they sign up to do a tandem. "Don't bring children unless they are under direct supervision of an adult." It terrifies me to think what might happen. I ended up off a load to to rescue a little guy just trotting out onto the runway one time. Happens a lot!! Got no sympathy for basically saving a life... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #8 October 11, 2004 QuoteLIGHTNINGBUGGIRL Zap!Zap!Zap do you own a stun gun?? cuz for some reason with a sig line lke that i can just picture ya running around making it spark........but besides the crackle it make i i bet you also yell zap too don't ya you can tellthe truth here... it's only the internet.. not like anyone ever reads this stuff.. oh what, you say millionsof peole have acces to this shit..... oh well...... ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lightningbugirl 0 #9 October 11, 2004 QuoteQuoteLIGHTNINGBUGGIRL Zap!Zap!Zap do you own a stun gun?? cuz for some reason with a sig line lke that i can just picture ya running around making it spark........but besides the crackle it make i i bet you also yell zap too don't ya you can tellthe truth here... it's only the internet.. not like anyone ever reads this stuff.. oh what, you say millionsof peole have acces to this shit..... oh well...... ? sorry ? ZAP ? What do you mean? ZAP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #10 October 11, 2004 Quote sorry ? ZAP ? What do you mean? ZAP zap as in zap.. ya know like people thing lighningbugs are electric and such... os ya could zap them with the stun gun...lol....... wow, have i hijacked my own thread??? ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lightningbugirl 0 #11 October 11, 2004 seriously, you have Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antifnsocial 0 #12 October 11, 2004 I just say, "Dear sweet little one, don't continue to go out into the very, very dangerous runway or the big planes and helicopters will smush you flat and chop you up into very icky little red and bloody pieces and no one wants that. Now go on adorable little child and tell your parent I just saved your traumatized little life." JK- really I don't say that...wouldn't want to actuallytraumatize them!Please feel free to reply to my posts and pm's, but only if you're smart enough to understand what they really mean. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Airman1270 0 #13 October 11, 2004 Amen. Most of the kids I've seen at the DZ, including mine, have been wonderful, but once in a while... My youngest (3 at the time) got a compliment a year or so back from a rigger who's not a big fan of kids, but doesn't mind as long as they behave. He was packing; she started to walk across his lines, then stopped and went around the container & on her way. He said "thank you" and continued packing. I've never seen jumpers' kids causing trouble, but then I'm not out there every week. Cheers, Jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #14 October 11, 2004 Yesterday at the dz i saw a 5 year old BASE jumping off the top of the mock up ( 5 feet high) with some kind of back pack and fake plastic bag pilot chute and bridle. I'm thinking here comes a broken ankle.. go for it. And i look to see who's kid it was only to see dad (i guess) video taping the whole thing and saying ready set go . ! Good Job !.. As the kid does a wuffo style PLF (not a very good one.) It looked painful but fun to the kid. This is why kids don't need to be at the dz. They'll be jumping off the roof when the parents aren't around..... Like we all did. ha Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyyhi 0 #15 October 11, 2004 My son was "entertaining" several young children (mine is 11) at Nationals on Saturday who seemed to have a knack for getting in the way. My kid just kept them entertained on the playground and pool area. I have no clue where the parents of these kids were. It was very interesting to see these young ones with no supervision. Fortunately, my kid is now a dz brat and EVERYONE knows him. In fact, when I show up without him they all ask where he is. . .I mean good errand boys are hard to come by. . .lol.________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tspillers 0 #16 October 11, 2004 Kids will be kids and must be supervised. Some of the things I see make me think, "Some kids' parents.." My Kids are overall well behaved and pretty much are a staple at the DZ. I manage it and my wife runs manifest. My kids love to read, they can escape to my office for some playstation (they have a time limit), one of them ride a skateboard and the other a bike. They know the areas to avoid and the oldest (10) is even begun learning how to pack. Even these great kids are still kids. They are currently grounded for pulling up all the cushions from the couches in the student training area to make a fort with. I have seen some of the things mentioned here by spectator's kids. Most of our staff are really good about telling the parents of the dangers and encouraging them to watch their kids. I am not totally useless, I can be used as a bad example. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #17 October 11, 2004 QuoteI have seen some of the things mentioned here by spectator's kids. Most of our staff are really good about telling the parents of the dangers and encouraging them to watch their kids. I remember how Dave let some Tandem Student's kids know how to NOT walk on my parachute lines.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tspillers 0 #18 October 11, 2004 Tactful, but forceful, told to the kids with the parents watching and listening works great. It makes the parents realize they are taking their responsiblity seriously in an unforgiving invironment. I am not totally useless, I can be used as a bad example. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #19 October 11, 2004 well Dave, Unfortunately those kids you are refering to have no idea what goes on or how to act at a dz; neither do their parents. When someone (or a group of someones) is doing their first jump, you expect them to be a little "dumb" in the ways of dz bahavior and safety. sadly ,the parents dont now that stepping on lines.spilling soda of your main or goofing around will kill them or thier kids. its a huge P.I.T.A but unless those people come back on a regular basis you're going to have to be very aware of you gear and every kid etc. By the way, you do have some typos in your post!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #20 October 11, 2004 QuoteBy the way, you do have some typos in your post yeah i know.. but not nearly as many as i would of had if i hadn't re read it once or twice..... heck think, two lines of text and i normallyhave like 10 a whold dman paragraph and i would of had like 100... a couple is pretty good!!! ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlindBrick 0 #21 October 12, 2004 You know somebody ought to make a video to show people who bring skids to the DZ. Basically find an old prop and hook it up to a tractor's PTO drive. Hold up a large cantaloupe and say "This is your kid" Throw cantalopue into the prop and say "This is your kid left unattended at the dropzone, any questions?" -Blind"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerrcoin 0 #22 October 12, 2004 We used to have that problem at the DZ. There would be loads of kids running around the packing hanger and jumpers area. The problem was that quite a lot of them would be there weekend after weekend but we couldn't identify their parents. Then one day we noticed a car droping a bunch of kids at the main gates and then driving off. Seems that some of the locals were treating the DZ as a sort of daycare for a few hours.So we rounded up all the unidentified and non-dz kids, brought them to the video room and put on the Southpark movie. I guess that they learned some stuff because we haven't seen them lately.Edited to add: Jumpers Kids seem to be pretty well behaved and have a good grasp of the dangers of an airfield. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflynNicki 0 #23 October 12, 2004 the whole notion of "ignorance @ the DZ" does come into play...i'm a newbie to this rockin' sport, and i was (& of course still am) ignorant to many things...HOWEVER...if your kid is being a brat, sit the focker down...parents need to be more active! That goes for the DZ, the store, teh damn park...freakin. everywhere. I'm a young one, but it ercks the hell out of me when i see parents (much older than i) not doing their job!!!!! it's like if you take your dog to the pet store, and she pees on the floor...well that's not the dog's fault...it's the parents!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PMS#269 Team Dirty Sanchez#41 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
