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Topic Date User

Accident Register (www.accidentregister.org) 3-Feb-2006 At 7:52:09 PM Romfrantic

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On 3/02/2006 vwills wrote:
>I dont think that an internet forum is the proper way to reliably investigate
>climbing fatalities and injuries. Self report is unreliable.
>Tapping into the the state health systems to maintain a prospective accident
>register where all fatalities (picked up from deaths reported to the coroner)
>and all major injuries (picked up from attendance at emergency departments)are
>flagged and can then be investigated in a timely and sensitive fashion
>would be the way to collect meaningful data.

I actually did raise this question once (not here though), regarding access to records kept by the authorities, and issues with coroner investigations etc....but wasn't sure if they gave those sorts of details to the public, never got an answer either - I gather from your post, that it is possible?

On 3/02/2006 vwills wrote:
>I am sure accidents related to climbing are grossly under reported, even
>in countries where there is a history of good accident reporting and a
>strong and unified climbing culture.

Yes, that's true....and that's not even counting 'near misses'.

>Reports on forums like this and crag X are insensitive and voyeuristic.

Exactly right - and media reports, often with dubious reporting and fact-verification, makes matters worse. Hence, why Lucas' database (in conjuction with Blue Mts Climber's Rescue et al) was a useful resource.