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General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Helmets are now compulsory 5-Dec-2003 At 2:43:19 PM G

Message

When I used to run climbing trips in the RMIT outdoors, helmets were compulsory. I don't recall it ever being made an official club policy at the time, or being told that it was a requirement in order to gain insurance (since the RMIT union took care of the insurance), but I felt a moral obligation to those on the trip, especially those with limited climbing experience, to make the trip as safe as possible for them.

As a separate thoght... I am not sure if the VCC hires gear at all, but the RMIT outdoors club, as a way of encouraging helmet use by members not just on club trips (where you have to wear one), hires of helmets free of charge. I know that I certainly make the most of this. Personally I wouldn't consider trad climbing without a helmet, in the same way that I wouldn't consider riding my mountain bike without a helmet.

On a less serious note, I believe it was Jerry Sienfeld who questioned the use of helmets in 'extreme' sporting activities, suggesting that perhaps it went against the Darwinian theory of natural selection.