Tandems & vomitting?

[riggerrob 643]

Tandem instructors,
What tricks, techniques, etc do you tell tandem students to minimise the number that vomit on you?
Here at Pitt Meadows we use a wholistic approach. We start early in ground school with a reminder about eating breakfast. Students that skipped breakfast are encouraged to eat at least a muffin.
We continue with leaving belly bands (on older Strong student harnesses) and chin straps a bit loose.
We reassure them by chatting with them during the airplane ride. We point out major land marks and review the skydive. One minute before exit we take three slow, deep breaths.
During the canopy ride we ask students to grab steering toggles and talk them through turns. If a student sounds scared during the canopy ride, we limit turns to a bare minimum.
On final approach I chatter incessantly to students reminding them to get their feet out in front, hands up, eyes on the horizon, repeat.
After landing I reassure them what a great job they did while loosening their leg straps.
By reminding them to eat breakfast and minimizing harness discomfort, we minimize physical causes of nausea. By "keeping them in the loop" in the air, we minimize surprises and psychological causes of nausea. The end result of this long-winded approach is rarely having to wash our jumpsuits.

[Zennie 0]

Has anyone ever had a student hurl in freefall?
I've talked to tandem masters who have had it happen under canopy or on the ground, but not in freefall. Talk about messy.
Ewwwwwwww....
"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

[AggieDave 6]

One of our video fliers vomited in freefall while filming a tandem. It was a early Sunday jump and he was really hung over, so it sort of happened. He just rolled over on his back and vomited and rolled back over. If you watch the video you wouldn't even know except for the really odd face the tandem student (girl) is making when it happened!
AggieDave '02
-------------
Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

[billvon 2,991]

Some tricks I've used -
1. Get the legstraps under them. Newer Vector harnesses are great, but older Strong harnesses tended to make people sick - something how the main lift webs pressed into their shoulders. If you can get them to stand on your foot and slide the legstraps forward a bit, it can help.
2. Keep em from looking down. Remind them they should look at the cameraman or out at the horizon during freefall. Once open, I chatter about what's around them, and try to find interesting things on the horizon for them to look at.
3. Keep turns flat. If I know I've got a potential hurler I turn as little as possible and as gently as possible.
4. Talk to them a lot. Get them talking about things not directly related to the jump, like who they brought with them, where they're from etc.
5. When all else fails, turn right and push their heads left. Ask them to give you a little warning so you can get ready.
-bill von

[jumpervali 2]

I like to let them lead the tempo of the canopy flight. As soon as the canopy is open, and side straps loosened, we together fly the canopy. That way their eyes and inner ear mesh with what is going on. I have no way to explain getting peed on.....it just happened I guess.
jumpervali

[skyhawk 2]

i threw up on my first jump had a barbie breakfest befor the jump then a nice ride in a 182 you can c it in my vid i look as white as a sheet and i felt like crap i threw up about 10 sec under canopy do niced slow turns cause that made me feel like crap the most (fast turns)
Click Me

[freeflir29 0]

"I have no way to explain getting peed on"
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

[matttrudeau 0]

I almost vomitted when we did 360 spins really fast. If your along for the ride and the Jump Master spins you fast you might get sick. So stay away from quick spins on first time jumpers.

[PLFKING 4]

One of the TMs where I used to jump had a guy hurl in freefall. He was the last tandem of a group of 5 guys who showed up looking "really bad" (after a night of debauchery). My friend said it just came shooting into his face over the passengers shoulder, and he *thinks* he probably swallowed a little of it ! He got out of the way the next time. Then, to top it off, the guy blew again while under canopy, and it got all over my friend's leg.
(and you thought a total mal was your biggest worry....Don

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Knock on wood, but I have never had one barf on me yet. I HAVE had three pass out on me under canopy, but all regained consciousness prior to landing. None of those three helped me flare, but I landed all of them OK.
Chuck
My webpage HERE

[skymedic 0]

Quote

I HAVE had three pass out .......

Nothing like some good ol psychogenic shock to knock em out!!!!
Marc
Res Firma Mitescere Nescite

[riggerrob 643]

Physiologically fainting is close to vomitting on the psychological stress scale.
I believe they are both relatd to low blood sugar.
When students arrive at the DZ without breakfast, all that adrenaline during a jump makes them burn through their limited reserves of blood sugar, so that when they relax after opening, they pass out. This certainly explains those 1% of static line students who steer for the trees, totally ignoring all radio commands.
Knock on wood, I have never had anyone pass out on me under canopy, but have had three who were so faint that they barely answered my questions and left all the steering to me.

[skymedic 0]

not totaly true.....psychogenic shock is all over the place....people drop at the site of blood...this is the same thing...people freak out....people get a vasodialation causing drop in B/P followed by nighty night.....
Marc
Res Firma Mitescere Nescite

[Iflyme 0]

Quote

he probably swallowed a little of it !

eeewwwwwww

[PLFKING 4]

Quote

eeewwwwwww

My thoughts exactly, Frank.
How've you been ? Hadn't seen much of you around here.....

Don