(
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"