Rope Swings: Delightful or Dangerous?

Rope swings have been a component of river fun for as long as there have been rivers and people, but are they dangerous? Are they criminal?

One of the rules enforced by the Missouri Water Patrol is no cliff jumping or rope swings allowed. I was fully aware that cliff jumping/diving was banned, despite it still happening. Until recently I didn’t realize that rope swings were against the rules as well. Perhaps, because every time I go floating I see them.

I admit to holding my breath in anticipation of a disaster when I paddle past the large rock that people jump and swing from. You know the one. For some, it’s a rite of passage to prove how manly they are. For others, it’s the fulfillment of a dare. For me, it’s a feat I’ve never experienced. Why? I can’t swim. However, the lack of that skill doesn’t prevent other people from attempting it.

Now that I know rope swings are against river law, I’m curious as to why there’s always one at that particular location. Does the water patrol cut it down? Do people put it back up? Is this a location where the water has been deemed deep enough to allow such activity?

Cliff jumping has the obvious problem of diving into water that is too shallow. Rope swings share that particular danger, in addition to variants of it. One is letting go of the rope too soon and landing on rocks near the water’s edge (another form of the shallow water problem). Another is letting go too late and missing the deep swimming hole and landing in shallow water on the other side (Hmmm, I’m seeing a pattern here.).

Other, not so obvious dangers include the possibility is not letting go of the rope at all and slamming back into the face of the rock or river bank that you just swung from. Rope burns are another possible injury when a person doesn’t have enough upper body strength to support their weight while swinging. Girls are more prone to this injury. As their hands slide the rope, friction burns the flesh right off. Getting tangled in the rope can also lead to serious injury such as hanging. This particular accident makes rescue difficult if not impossible as the person is literally hanging well above the water and eight to ten feet from shore. If a person cannot be reached, they cannot be rescued.

When all goes well, and most of the time it does. Swinging on a rope out into the water is a refreshing and fun river past time. People have done it for generations.

What do you think? Are rope swings delightful or dangerous? If dangerous, then why are they still there?