Caving Hazards

Caving Hazards
By:  Cave Spelunking

Caving isn't the safest way to spend your day off.  If you want "safe," you could make like a couch potato and take up origami.  It won't be as much fun, but the biggest hazard in origami is a paper cut.


Caving does have hazards, but most caving accidents and injuries are preventable.  The most common caving injuries are caused by trips and falls and falling rocks.  Injuries can also occur when cavers get lost, or suffer from dehydration or hypothermia.  Here's how to avoid accidents and injuries:

Tripping & Falling:  Most tripping and falling cave accidents happen near the end of the caving trip rather than at the beginning.  At the beginning of a caving adventure, the cavers are very aware of their surroundings and they are fresh therefore they are sure-footed.  As the caving expedition goes on,
cavers begin to lose focus and get tired. That's when tripping and falling most often occurs. The trick is frequent rest periods and eating high-energy foods as well as drinking plenty of fluids.

Falling Rocks:  Rockfall is the second-leading cause of caving injuries. Caves aren't solid rock. If you look around, you will see loose rocks lying around everywhere. They're there because they fell from above. First, a good helmet is essential, and then awareness of your surroundings is vital.  If there are loose rocks in the area where you are, there's a very good chance that rocks are going to fall.  Avoiding rockfall zones is the surest way to prevent falling rock injuries.
Lost:  A cavers' worst fear is getting lost, and it can happen even to the best of them.  First, stay with your group.  Second, pick out landmarks at each intersection.  If you get lost, stay put and wait to be found. 

Dehydration:  Dehydration happens more frequently than you might imagine. Drink plenty of water and do so frequently.

Hypothermia:  It's a lot easier to prevent hypothermia than it is to treat it.  Wear layered clothing that is of the proper weight for the temperature of the cave that you are exploring.

Rock On & Keep Spelunking...
Cave Spelunking.

Preparing To Enter A Cave

Preparing To Enter A Cave
By: Cave Spelunking

Going caving is an exciting adventure. Caving is one of the fastest-growing sports in America today. Exploring caves is a lot of fun, of course, but nobody who has ever done any caving will tell you that it is the safest activity you could engage in. If you want "safe," take up knitting. If you want "adventure," take up caving.

The main objective of all conscientious cavers is "safety first." Yes, we are all eager to get started, but we all know that we need to make preparations BEFORE we enter the cave.

* We form a caving party of at least four members because it isn't safe to go caving alone.

* We tell someone who will remain on the surface what our plans are. We tell them which cave we are going into, and we tell them what time we expect to return.

* We always pack a small first aid kit when we are caving. Stuff happens. We know that we need to be prepared.

* We thoroughly check our equipment before we enter a cave. We check ropes, pulleys, harnesses, and other equipment for undue wear.

* The most experienced caver is always in charge of the party.

* The pace is determined by the slowest caver in the group.

* Each and every member of the caving party carries a minimum of three working light sources.

* Each member of the caving party wears a helmet.

* We always take a good supply of water and high-energy foods.

* We plan frequent rest periods. Caving is exhausting. We don't ever plan to "push the envelope" of endurance.

Going caving is exciting and fun, but the most important thing when starting a caving adventure is to do everything possible to ensure that all members of the caving party get back to the surface safe and sound.

Rock On & Keep Spelunking...
Cave Spelunking.