Charity begins and ends at home

It is perhaps a sign to get out more when you have not one, but two favourite parachute papers. The first is clearly the clarion call for a trial of ‘Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma related to gravitational challenge’. The second is an older paper, calculating the cost–benefit ratio of charity parachute jumps. Based on an injury rate of 11% in charity jumps and an average cost per casualty of £3751, the authors concluded that for each pound raised, it cost the National Health Service £13.75 in return. On second thoughts, perhaps not getting out more is just the ticket—that is until they publish those ghastly reports about how many people are hospitalised by treading on Lego or tripping over the dog.

BMJ 2003;327:1459.

Injury 1999;30:283–7.

And now for something completely different…

Fans of national stereotyping will use the existence of …