Dan Robinson
A data set I thought would be beneficial to compile would be injuries chasers have sustained during a chase day (from the time one leaves their home or hotel to the time they return). For the purpose of this data set, an injury is defined as any one that is significant enough to require medical attention of some kind (from roadside first aid to an ER or doctor visit).
I'm interested to see if this data will reflect what the real risk percentages are in the activity of storm chasing. I have a pretty good idea of what to expect, but I'd like to see real numbers to back it up.
The following are the basic risk factors that I know about (as in, I've heard of each of these being a factor in known incidents):
* Car accidents due to:
---- Wet roads
---- Hail on the road
---- Encountering debris on the road
---- Encountering animals on the road
---- Driving too fast for a road configuration (sharp curve, sudden transition to a muddy road)
---- Distracted driving (computers, cell phones)
---- Poor visibility (dust, fog or heavy rain)
* Direct hail impacts (cuts or bruises)
* Glass injuries from vehicular window hail impacts
* Lightning injury
* Sunburn
* Hypothermia
* Bee stings, insect bites
* Animal bites
* Equipment-related injuries:
---- Electric shock
---- Cuts from tools, changing tires, vehicle maintenance, etc
---- Joint or muscle strain from lifting objects or equipment
* Tornado impacts
Ideally I'd like to classify injuries by their severity, IE from those requiring medical care/doctor visits to those only requiring on-site first aid.
My goal is to quantify what the actual risks to chasers really are, as I think this would be helpful in gaining a perspective both for ourselves and people outside of the hobby. If I'm able to compile enough data, I'll produce some charts and graphs and post them here.
If you would be willing to share any incidents or injuries you have experienced during a chase day, please post! If you'd rather keep your info private, please PM me - I will only use the information in a final tally (with no names or details disclosed).
Interestingly enough, I do not remember ever sustaining any notable injuries myself during a chase in my 16 years of the hobby.
I'm interested to see if this data will reflect what the real risk percentages are in the activity of storm chasing. I have a pretty good idea of what to expect, but I'd like to see real numbers to back it up.
The following are the basic risk factors that I know about (as in, I've heard of each of these being a factor in known incidents):
* Car accidents due to:
---- Wet roads
---- Hail on the road
---- Encountering debris on the road
---- Encountering animals on the road
---- Driving too fast for a road configuration (sharp curve, sudden transition to a muddy road)
---- Distracted driving (computers, cell phones)
---- Poor visibility (dust, fog or heavy rain)
* Direct hail impacts (cuts or bruises)
* Glass injuries from vehicular window hail impacts
* Lightning injury
* Sunburn
* Hypothermia
* Bee stings, insect bites
* Animal bites
* Equipment-related injuries:
---- Electric shock
---- Cuts from tools, changing tires, vehicle maintenance, etc
---- Joint or muscle strain from lifting objects or equipment
* Tornado impacts
Ideally I'd like to classify injuries by their severity, IE from those requiring medical care/doctor visits to those only requiring on-site first aid.
My goal is to quantify what the actual risks to chasers really are, as I think this would be helpful in gaining a perspective both for ourselves and people outside of the hobby. If I'm able to compile enough data, I'll produce some charts and graphs and post them here.
If you would be willing to share any incidents or injuries you have experienced during a chase day, please post! If you'd rather keep your info private, please PM me - I will only use the information in a final tally (with no names or details disclosed).
Interestingly enough, I do not remember ever sustaining any notable injuries myself during a chase in my 16 years of the hobby.
