How to Survive a Long Fall

Knowing how to survive a long fall is one thing, actually surviving is another. Although highly unlikely that you will survive, you can maximise your chances using the below steps.

Photo Credit: Designlazy.com

Steps

1- Always land feet first. The number one rule is to always try and land exactly how you would jumping from a small height; feet first attempting to cusion your landing with bent knees (although if landing on water, it is best to have straight legs in order to pierce the surface tension). 

2- Pick your surface. If you have time to choose a surface to land on and enough altitude to orientate towards that surface, your best bet is to find deep snow, preferably on a slope, then water, preferably with a broken or frothy surface, followed by a smooth steep slope, followed by soft mud or marsh, followed by a hollow roof, preferably lightly tiled, followed by large bushes (although you may get impaled), followed by a car, and finally, horrible concrete or tarmac. 

3- If landing on water, keep your legs together tightly and your arms by your side. Clench your buttocks to avoid internal damage, and cover your groin. Land upright and tight, but ever so slightly leaning back. Take a very deep breath of air and close your eye just before impact. As soon as you have broken the surface, raise your arms to slow your decent.

4- If landing on a slope, still land feet first but as soon as they absorb the impact (with knees bent!), try to roll over a shoulder. Cover your head as best as possible and try not to tense up.

5- If you’re landing on a flat surface there is a good chance that you’re going to bounce. If that’s the case, should you have managed to land on your feet in the first instance, don’t go ruining it by landing on your head the second time that you hit the ground! Open your eyes and cover your head.

6- Steer and slow your decent. If falling from a great height, concentrate on adopting a skydiving pose. Scope out the area beneath you and find somewhere softer or sloped to land. As ridiculous as this sounds, try to stay calm!

7- Seek medical help immediately. Even if you feel fine there’s a good chance that you’re gonna have a couple of bones sticking out of your legs and the adrenalin is just masking it. Even if you can’t see anything external, you will most likely have some severe internal damage. 

Tips

If you find yourself deep under the water, it is better to pass out than to inhale water. Avoid the temptation to breathe in.

If underwater and stuck in the sand/substrata, try and stay calm as this will save you valuable oxygen. Attempt to climb out as if you were climbing a ladder.

If under water and unsure which way is up, blow bobbles and follow them.

If in the snow and unsure which way is up, try and clear some space around your crotch or your mouth and pee or spit to see which way is down.