(abbreviation of rapid deceleration syndrome)
Term for the effects of travelling at great speed and then hitting an immovable object... such as cuts, bruises, broken limbs, paralysis or
death.
Originally military slang, but now used by other groups, for example:
Rock climbers: The effects of falling from a great height.
Cyclists: The effects of misjudging a corner and hitting a wall/
tree/whatever straight on.
Severe Rapid Deceleration Syndrome or SRDS usually refers to
death.
"Is Mike out climbing today?"
"No he took a whipper yesterday, and he's at home recovering from a
case of rapid deceleration syndrome"
"I need the day off
work to go to a friends funeral - he caught a fatal case of RDS while out biking the other
day"