Example - First blog post

We have attempted to re-start a climbing accidents database because we are a group interested in getting more near-miss and incident data public regarding climbing accidents in Australia.

Just to be clear, we’re not here to tell other people how to spend their time on the rocks, to judge others for mistakes we’ve probably gotten away with in the past. We’ve all taken shortcuts, used inappropriate or unfamiliar techniques, climbed unecessarly runout, sketchy unroped climbing, given and accepted crappy belays, accepted substandard belay anchors, we’ve given crappy advice and refused to accept sensible suggestions from others, we’ve climbed intoxicated. While we might like to think we’ve learned our lessons, that now as more experienced climbers we are at lower risk then our previous neophyte selves, the truth is pretty simple - there are many risks inherent in climbing, but the biggest risks are from our own choices. 

The objective of this project is to encourage a more open discussion regarding recreational climbing accidents in Australia, and encourage consideration of how they may be avoided in future. Of course, It is up to climbers themselves to consider how they manage risk.

These accidents are costly to climbers, their friends and families and the wider community. Many, if not most, are apparently easily preventable. Unfortunately, often the details of these accidents are often lost in time or degenerate to inaccurate gossip. Many accidents involving climbing clubs are complicated by legal and internal governance issues, and deaths are often left to the coroner whose findings are not widely circulated. Minor accidents and near misses are seldom reported. 

While we hope to develop a framework for reporting, it will of course be up to the wider Australian climbing community on whether this project succeeds; both by submitting reports and acting on the lessons learned. 

Regards,

Dave