What should a skydiver do if they experience a serious malfunction during freefall?

When a skydiver experiences a serious malfunction during freefall, the first priority is to stabilize and assess the situation. This crucial step allows the jumper to gather their thoughts, control their body position, and ensure they are safe from tumbling or spinning. Establishing a stable position is essential because it enables the skydiver to better evaluate the parachute's condition and decide on the correct course of action.

Assessing the situation carefully helps the skydiver determine whether the malfunction can potentially be resolved or if an immediate emergency procedure is required. In certain cases, there may be an opportunity to troubleshoot issues with the main parachute before considering the deployment of the reserve, but only if it is safe to do so.

Immediate actions such as pulling the reserve parachute without stabilization can lead to complications, such as two parachutes deploying together or a chaotic situation, which can exacerbate the malfunction outcomes. Similarly, attempting to fix the main parachute during freefall is inherently dangerous, as it takes attention away from maintaining control and could result in a loss of stability. Ignoring the malfunction is equally unwise because even seemingly minor issues can rapidly escalate and lead to severe consequences.