Caving safety rules and guidelines are there for a reason. They are established for cavers to enjoy spelunking repeatedly without injuring themselves or the caves they are exploring.
The need to call for help in cases of accidents has been taken into consideration when the rules of caving safety were formulated. If you follow the rules and guidelines, you can avoid injuries and be rescued in case of an emergency.
Before you go caving, take time to find out what the weather will be. If rain is a possibility, refrain from exploring caves that are inclined to flooding as they can easily flood in a short time.
Make sure you tell someone where you are caving and when you are likely to come back from your trip. This trusted person will call the attention of appropriate agencies if your group fails to return at a predetermined time.
Allow some time in setting up your expected time of return as trips can sometimes take longer than anticipated. If your trip took even much longer than what has been considered as the time to call for help, call the person who's expecting you as soon as you get out of the cave. Tell him or her not to call the authorities if there's really no need to worry.
Never ever go exploring caves all by yourself. It is recommended to have at least four persons in a group and at least one must be an experienced caver. All members of the group must remain within hearing distance from one other. In case somebody gets hurt, two members can go out and call for help while the other one stays with the injured member.
A call to 911 can be made at the entrance of the cave using a cellphone. Although there is usually no signal inside a cave, it doesn't hurt to try calling from inside if immediate help is needed.
Always proceed with caution while moving inside a cave. Don't make hasty movements, run, jump, or horse around. Stay away from precarious places. Think about what will be your next steps before you execute them.
If your group gets lost inside a cave, you can stay put and wait for the outside person who knows where you are to call for help. If you do decide to keep on moving, make identifying marks by piling rocks that point to the direction your group has taken.
Take the rules by heart and avoid the need to call for help.
Find tips about how to get rid of bats and types of bats at the About Animals website.
No comments:
Post a Comment