Kite Tubing Update For KV

[Pangloss62]

Hey KV, at least check out the video clips from this announcement; we don't want an injured celler-dweller (at least I don't think so).


GLEN CANYON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Kite Tubing Safety Alert
Over the past month, the park has experienced a sharp upswing in visitor accidents and injuries due to kite tubing on the lake.

Kite tubes were introduced into the market this past winter and have proven to be extremely dangerous. During the past three weeks, Glen Canyon staff have airlifted four people from the lake, with three suffering life threatening injuries. Kite tubes are large, round, ten-foot tubes with a solid fabric floor in the bottom. As the tube is pulled forward, the front of the tube is lifted and air catches the floor of the tube and lifts it out of the water with the rider on top of the tube.

In all cases at Glen Canyon NRA, the riders were being pulled at 25 to 35 mph with a head on or quartering wind. The tubes would rise uncontrollably 15 to 25 feet into the air and immediately invert and accelerate back to the water. The combined forward speed of the boat, plus the additional accelerated downward speed is driving these victims into the water at speeds near 50+ mph. For additional details on the accidents, see the related incident report in today’s edition.

Interviews with friends and family members of accident victims have shown a disturbing trend with this use. In all cases at Glen Canyon NRA, multiple minor injury accidents occurred prior to the incidents that required advanced life support. All victims were using the kite tubes as directed when they suddenly lifted to dangerous heights, became unstable, and plunged down to the water surface. The injuries seen are consistent with deceleration impact events that cause internal trauma. Victims have reported coughing up blood, torn muscles, whiplash type injuries, broken ribs, punctured lungs and cervical fractures.

Glen Canyon NRA has initiated discussion and contact with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and will be providing a national safety alert through their organization very soon. In addition, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been notified regarding this emerging threat and efforts are being made to disseminate more information on this activity through them.
One of the park’s weekend accidents resulted in a major neck injury. A news video from KUTV in Salt Lake City and a second KUTV video clip on an incident at Lake Mead can be viewed by clicking on the links listed below (a flash player is needed to view them):

http://www.kutv.com/video/?id=16192@kutv.dayport.com
http://www.kutv.com/video/?id=16155@kutv.dayport.com

A prohibition on cliff jumping was put in place at Glen Canyon last year after an increase in injuries and fatalities associated with this activity. Although controversial in the beginning, it has been widely accepted and the park has received many positive comments back on this prohibition. A review of the data indicated that a significant increase in injury and death occurred at jumps higher than 15 feet. The last cliff jumping fatality occurred from 70 feet, with a calculated speed of about 50 mph when the victim impacted the water.

Similar circumstances apply in this case. All kite tubers reported that they were traveling at 30 to 35 mph and most were 15 to 20 feet in the air when they were either ejected or turned upside down and accelerated back to the water. Another 10 to 20 mph of speed is added to their forward speed, so the victims are hitting the water at 45 to 55 mph. These accidents are therefore the equivalent of a 70 foot cliff jump, with the added component of the victims having no control over how they enter or impact the water.