Rock climbing is an increasingly popular sport in the United Kingdom. The British Mountaineering Council estimates that there are approximately 150,000 active climbers in the United Kingdom. Rock climbers often use ropes, harnesses, and helmets to protect themselves in the event of a fall. Injuries may result from falls while rock climbing for a number of reasons. Climbers may have decided not to use a rope/harness, or the nature of the climb may prevent the placement of protective equipment, thus resulting in a fall to the ground. Equipment may fail when loaded during a fall, or the climber may strike the rock as they fall but be prevented from hitting the ground by their protective equipment. This study was undertaken to determine whether people injured in falls while rock climbing have a similar likelihood of sustaining serious injury as those injured in non-rock-climbing falls.
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