Bungee jumping is an extreme sport that has often been considered dangerous. The thought of jumping from a high point, which can include moving objects such as helicopters, almost always strikes a deep fear of heights into first time bungee jumpers. In actuality, the sport is considered to be very safe- the highly elastic cables that prevent a collision with the ground are incredibly durable- and almost never fail.

The cord, specifically, is a braided type of latex. The cord usually attaches to the ankle of the individual who is jumping, although a chest harness may be used in special situations. In most cases, a harness is attached as a backup, in case the ankle attachment fails. This adds a new level of security for skeptical jumpers, so the sport of bungee jumping isnŐt near as frightening as skydiving. When the jump is over, a crane can be either used to hoist the jumper up, or descend them gently to the ground.

The appealing part of the sport is the amount of freefall the jumping individual obtains. This type of freefall makes the jumper feel weightless, much like the act of skydiving would. Another increased adrenaline rush comes from the danger involved in calculating the right elasticity of the rope- there have been fatalities where jumpers have had too much slack and have hit the ground. Most of the time, however, things work out- as the individual is rebounded into the air for another slightly less extreme drop towards the ground.

Another benefit of the sport is that it can be practiced at exotic locations. Many types of cliff-side bungee jumps are available. Even bungee jumping from a helicopter is possible, although it is much more expensive and there is more risk involved in some cases. This makes the sport popular among tourists to scenic countries, but it can also be practiced just about anywhere with the right equipment.

The sport of bungee jumping will likely provide a few injuries, even if things do go right. For instance, eye trauma is always a possible injury. Dislocating joints or straining muscles in areas such as the back is also very possible. More fatal injuries come from miscalculations, and cords entangling the victim. These types of injuries are rather rare, especially when the right precautions are taken. Nevertheless, younger and elderly people will most likely see injury from the strain the sport puts on the human body- so this is likewise considered an extreme sport.

Bungee jumping will appeal to those looking to get the fast thrill of freefalling, only without the dangers of skydiving. The sport of bungee jumping is still dangerous, however, and should only be practiced by professionals. The right equipment, and backup equipment, will give an added sense of security- so there is little reason to worry about cords snapping, or collisions with the ground occurring. Over a million jumps have taken place in the past few years, as bungee jumping is fast becoming a mainstream extreme sport.There are many bungee jump locations in USA, Canada, France and Asia