Some of the kitesurfers around Perth were approached by a person asking if they would be keen in joining in on an Injuries study.

I don't know about anybody else but all we don't need is restrictions on kitesurfing and Personal Protective Equipment. I think WA is way over the top in regards to PPE in industry and really don't need it in our sport.

This may be a legit study, but I get a funny feeling about it. What do you guys think out there? I think it is up to the end user to choose what they are comfortable with not some GOV body who gets fees for enforcing their law or selling their study to insurance companies so they can up the life insurance of kitesurfers.

Here's the email I received.

***************************************************

Wet and Wild: assessing injuries among recreational water users



INFORMATION SHEET



What’s it all about?

There has been a huge rise in the number of people taking up kite surfing, water skiing, and jet skiing in the last few years. As a consequence, the number of injuries among these water users may also have increased but in Western Australia the rate of injuries is not known. We are researchers at the Schools of Population Health and Sport Science, Exercise and Health at the University of Western Australia who are looking at injuries among kite surfers, water skiers, and jet ski riders. This project is a pilot study to identify the range of injuries and intends to:

(a) explore and describe the risks and protective factors associated with injury, including safety and training practices, among kite surfers, water skiers, and jet ski riders in WA; and

(b) identify, describe, and compare injury incidence among kite surfers, water skiers, and jet ski riders aged 17 years and over.

Using the information from this study we will be able to identify strategies that can help to protect kite surfers, water skiers, and jet skiers from injury.



How are we going to do it?

We will use a web-based survey to ask questions about how long you have been active in your water sport, the places you go to practise/compete, the types of equipment you use, what you do before/during your activity, and information about any injuries you have had within the last year as a result of your water activity.



We are recruiting kite surfers, water skiers, and jet skiers, who use metropolitan and Peel region waters, who are aged over 17 years, and who have been involved with their activity for at least one year. If you agree to participate in the study, we will ask you to sign a consent form and provide us with a contact telephone number. We will ring you a week later to find out if you are still interested in taking part in the study. If you decide to opt out at this point, we will make no further contact with you. If you choose to continue with the study, we will ask for an email address to send you information about completing the online survey.



When we email you, we will include a web address and a validation code. The validation code is the only way you will be identified in the survey. Your name, phone number, email address, and any other identification details will not be included in the final survey data. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.





After you complete the online survey, you will be entered into a prize draw to win vouchers for a water sport shop specific to your activity. We will contact you up to three times, either by email or phone, to remind you to complete the questionnaire. Once you have completed the survey or we have reminded you three times, we will not make any further contact with you and your participation in the study will have ended. If you would like, we can send you the results of the study.



Why have we asked you?

You have been asked to participate because you are a kite surfer, a water skier, or a jet skier. We are recruiting people who have participated in these activities for at least a year and are over the age of 17 years.



If you choose to participate, you do so voluntarily and may withdraw without reason or prejudice at any stage of the study. Although there is a low risk that the information you supply may be subpoenaed, we will not link any identifying information with your responses and the results of the study will not be published in any way that identifies you as an individual participant. All the information provided will be treated as strictly confidential and kept in a password protected computer within the School of Population Health at UWA, in accordance with government guidelines.



The results from this pilot study will be published in journals and presented to WA government agencies so that all the relevant water safety organisations can help in protecting kite surfers, water skiers, and jet skiers from injury.



What’s in it for you?

By completing the survey you will go into the draw to win a $50 voucher from a water sports shop. The information you provide will help us to build knowledge about the sort of injuries sustained by kite surfers, water skiers, and jet boat riders. The results from this study will be used to develop strategies to reduce the risk of injury for people participating in these activities.



What’s the small print?

No nasty small print! You are free to withdraw from further participation at any stage of the study and without prejudice in any way. You need give no reason or justification for such a decision. If you do withdraw, any records relating to you will be destroyed unless you agree otherwise.

Although I do not agree with compulsory regulations in regards to wearing PPE etc. I do think some good will come from this study.

I personally wouldn't mind knowing the major causes of injury whilst doing the sport. A friend of mine broke his ankle whilst doing a jump too close to the shore. After reading a thread posted on seabreeze, I found that this was a very common injury. Result: I now give myself at least 1.5-2 line lengths distance from the shore before I try and jump (unless it is a transition).

Although it may be obvious to some, statistics on what exact activities cause what injuries can hopefully prevent further injuries.

On a similar note, I've been researching into starting paragliding. Initially I thought it might be a bit dangerous to risk, until I read a detailed study by the American paragliding association. It found that a huge percentage of the injuries/deaths are caused when trying to do acrobatics within 50 meters (or something like that) from the ground (ie. you need to give your self enough room to straighten out if you f*ck up).

I'd be stoked if this study came back detailing what tricks/locations/equipment caused the most injuries.

tmiddled said...



I personally wouldn't mind knowing the major causes of injury whilst doing the sport. A friend of mine broke his ankle whilst doing a jump too close to the shore. After reading a thread posted on seabreeze, I found that this was a very common injury. Result: I now give myself at least 1.5-2 line lengths distance from the shore before I try and jump (unless it is a transition).

Although it may be obvious to some, statistics on what exact activities cause what injuries can hopefully prevent further injuries.

Do we really need statistics that tell us to avoid landing jumps in no water in case we break an ankle? Really?

Hi,

That person was me and I chatted to a few people at Brighton Beach, all of whom seemed very generous in their support for the project. We are a team from UWA, funded by Healthway, running a pilot study of the injury incidence of water users along the WA coast and along the Swan River.

The rate of injuries (as in the number of injuries per 1000 hours of kitesurfing/water skiing/jet skiing activity) is unknown for the WA coastline/Swan River and by helping you will be providing the first lot of information about how kitesurfers keep themselves safe. The medical literature, and the mainstream press, seem only concerned about the really nasty injuries that make kitesurfing seem more dangerous and/or kitesurfers more reckless than is the case. We would like to document what's happening in the normal world of kitesurfing here in Perth.

As I chatted with people the other night, the concern about what the information is for came up a number of times and understandably. I can clarify that all the information you provide is anonymous and we are only interested in finding out the level of injury sustained (if any at all), such as whether it required hospital admission or just a check-up at your GP; what may have caused it (differentiating between equipment and water conditions, for example); and your attitudes to general safety issues, such as your opinion as to whether other people regard you as a safe water user.

I'm not sure if I've allayed any fears but I can add that every study at UWA that involves people is bound by strict ethics guidelines, which include data protection. I am more than happy to answer any questions regarding the project and you can email me at [email protected].

Despite your possible misgivings, it might be worth doing the questionnaire so you can see exactly what's involved. As it is a pilot study, we have included boxes for you to add any comments. This could be your opportunity to tell it as it is!

Obviously I hope that you support the study because the more people that take part, the more reliable the results.

Kind regards,
Catherine Hill,
Research Assistant,
School of Population Health,
UWA.

I did do an interesting survey recently about drug and alchol abuse. I got a $50 voucher for it.

At the end they asked what i thought about the survey and i told them it sucked because all they did was ask questions about how many times have i been in a fight while i was drinking (none) how many times have you had violent arguments while you were drinking (none)
BUT they didn't ask how many times i had made love (1,000) or made new friends (1,001) while i was drinking.
They didn't ask why i tried drugs more than once.
This "survey" was focussed on fear campaigns rather than the real problem of drug and alcohol abuse, (which is usually a symptom not the problem)

I suppose my point is, i bet this survey asks about injuries (none) and not about the benefits of the sport. I would vouch for kitesurfing being a major contributor to my fitness both physically and mentally, but i bet they don't ask about that

while i'm on my soap box..... how many of us would be sitting at home keeping our bones safe and sound if kiting didn't exist? I bet not many, we would all be breaking our bones some other way. Kiting is a symptom of someone who loves a thrill and a rush, however controlled they choose to do it, kiting in itself is not the problem.


i also heard WA is way over represented in spinal injuries in Australia. something like 26 per million compared with 14 for a national average. (lies or statistics??)

colinwill78 said...

I did do an interesting survey recently about drug and alchol abuse. I got a $50 voucher for it.

At the end they asked what i thought about the survey and i told them it sucked because all they did was ask questions about how many times have i been in a fight while i was drinking (none) how many times have you had violent arguments while you were drinking (none)
BUT they didn't ask how many times i had made love (1,000) or made new friends (1,001) while i was drinking.
They didn't ask why i tried drugs more than once.
This "survey" was focussed on fear campaigns rather than the real problem of drug and alcohol abuse, (which is usually a symptom not the problem)

I suppose my point is, i bet this survey asks about injuries (none) and not about the benefits of the sport. I would vouch for kitesurfing being a major contributor to my fitness both physically and mentally, but i bet they don't ask about that

Good points - but what about the one 'friend' you made but didn't shag. Opportunity lost there old bean.. erm.. unless it was a chappy!?