New Poll - OUCH!

Dear All,
I'm following this poll with fascination and would be really curious to know how many of the votes people submit overlap on the various categories. For example, during a swordfight (Involving combat/acrobatics), you lose control of your weapon (Involving prop or costume) and it hits your fellow actor unintentionally thus injuring him/her (Yes - my fault). This happens during the Dress Run (During rehearsal), and unfortunately, the wound required immediate first-aid and, subsequently, stitches at the hospital (Needed medical attention).
Perhaps you might think that's a little over-the-top, but it actually happens all too frequently when the general conditions are unsafe.
As a Fight Director, my job goes far beyond simply choreographing a fight scene. A huge amount of my work is to do with safety, not just for those performers engaged in the fight moment, but other actors on stage/on set who are non-combatants, stage crew, musicians and of course, the audience.
Having a Fight Director involved in your production is the best way to REDUCE the level of risk and thus avoid accidents as he/she is constantly aware of potential danger and will take the approriate steps to eliminate it. A Fight Director is a highly trained specialist (it takes approximately 4-5 years to qualify) who does the choreography, sure, but who also can act as a safety officer so that the rostra which people are leaping up onto is built strongly enough (Involving set/stage conditions), ensures that weapons and other props are safely maintained and properly stored (Backstage) and has up to date First Aid training in case of an accident.
It is a constant source of wonder to me how many actors (when I meet them for the first time) are keen to tell me of their "war-stories", yet I've never heard of one incident in the thirteen years I've been doing this stuff that couldn't have been avoided.
Play safe everyone!
Happy Swashbuckling,
Andy Fraser
Fight Director.