Be careful out there

[SlytherinAlex]

I know that what has happened to Billy Twigger is uppermost in our minds and with that I thought it might be good to have a checklist of things that we can do to make our geocaching trips safer.

 

I'm not an expert by any means so please add whatever tips you have to the list and maybe we can have them added to one of the stickies at the top of the UK forum.

 

I know that was caching in the UK on a regular basis on my own on weekdays my wife was always afraid that I'd fall down a cliff somewhere out in the wilds and no one would know where I was.

 

So if you are going out into the countryside:-

 

No.1 Always let someone know where you are going. Preferably a list of caches you intend to do and phone of text your progress as you go.

 

Any more?

[+Kitty Hawk]

I read one of PYoung1s posts ages ago where said he'd logged a cache halfway up a hill in poor weather, gone to the top to bag the trig and logged the cache on the way down again so that if he 'disappeared' people would know to hunt around the bottom half of the hill.

 

So, out in the wilds, that kind of awareness sounds good.

[+Simply Paul]

Don't be afraid to turn around and leave a cache for another day if you're not 100% happy that it's safe. There's no shame in quitting while you're ahead. If you really want to do something with an element of risk, make sure you've a friend or two with you in case you get out of your depth.

[+The Flying Boots]

Being used to mountainous areas we always carry

 

Maps

Compass

Whistle

Torch

First aid kit

Survival Bag

Waterproof Clothing

Mobile phone

Food

Drinks

 

If going off alone always tell someone where you are going and what time you are likely to arrive back.

 

Having a GPS on hand always take a waypoint from your car and at various stages on route if necessary.

 

Check the weather forecast before venturing out.

[+Moote]

Cache pages should give a real indication of seriousness, the Difficulty / Terrain rating does not always give the correct information.

 

The cache setter should never assume that because they know the area, that the hunter will also follow their tracks.

 

I did an offset multi some months ago, which could have led a cacher over a cliff, the webpage gave no indication that you might be entering such an area and there were 2 tracks one to the top of the quarry, the straightest line from the parking spot, the other was a longer route.

 

As the setter we should be fully honest and open about all dangers.

 

Moote

 

P.S.I never once mentioned a cache in a extremely dangerous cave

[+bhodisatva]

No1 on the checklist, before your gps, whistles, maps, pda's etc etc should be common sense, never leave home without it. You can be tricked up and equipped to the nines but if you don't know how to or realise when to use your equipment then you might as well not have it with you. Use your common sense to know when to persevere and when to call it a day, there's no shame in knowing when to call it a day because your personal limitations have been reached, it is far far better to be safe than to be sorry.

 

Be safe out there and remember it's supposed to be fun.

[+Beds Clangers]

Working in the mobile phone sector I spend a great deal of time doing Risk Assessments/Method Statements for the jobs I do. When your working at 30m off the ground mistakes are something we don't want!!

 

However, I think nothing of charging into a wood at 06:00 a.m, up ditches and banks looking for a tubberware box. If I slipped, tripped, fell who would know where I was?, NOT A SOUL!!!

 

As I'm told on every training course, " BE AWARE OF YOUR OWN SAFETY", and know your emergency recovery process. At work, we always work in pairs so there is someone there to do 3x9, out caching you may be on your own.

 

I know this is a very sad time and, as already posted I hope Billy Twigger makes a full recover, but is there not a danger that in search of the 5/5 cache we forget the safety of others??

 

Sorry for that

 

Nick (RSP MISOH )

[+macroderma]

I must admit in the UK I don't usually bother as I am not normally that far from help or am in mobile coverage

 

When I venture out into the wilds/onto moors etc I leave a copy of my Memory Map route with someone - or at least in the car

 

When I did the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton Nova Scotia I left a full itinerary with my hotel - just in case, especially as it wasn't tourist season

 

Waypointing the car is a Top Tip and I usually have the track log going to retrace my steps if the weather clamps or I get caught out by sunset

 

The kit list is a good one - I would add a small torch (comes in handy for caching too) and a penknife/leatherman - I tend to use mine mainly for sharpening pencils, but they can be useful

 

Edit - don't forget spare batteries for the GPS

Edited August 31, 2006 by macroderma

[+The Mighty Shark]

I tend to do most of my caching alone and although my wife knows where I'm going I never tell her the exact locations.

She does tend to phone me at least every 30 mins or so just to check up on how I am, but there have been times (in the mountains of Wales for example) where there has been no signal and god knows what I would have done then.

After hearing the terrible news about Billy Twigger I think my attidude towards caching will be changing and I will now be leaving a full list of caches I intend to visit so at least someone will know where to start looking should the need arise.

[+NickandAliandEliza]

bump

[+rutson]

Must say it is a bit of a wake up call. I've been out caching many a time with my parting call being "I'm going caching, see you later"; no-one on the planet having any idea where I was planning on going.

 

I'm not even sure leaving a note on the car is great idea. "I'm going to walk to X location then Y location then come back" reads like a sensible idea to a Mountain rescue team. It translates as "I'm not gonna be back for blooming hours, help yourself" to a low-life.

 

I think in future if I'm off into the wilds I'll put a list of caches I plan to do on my webspace and email a few cachers the link and an estimated time of return and ask them to call me if it gets much past that.

[+Kryten]

I remember hearing of a website designed to allow users to store a message for delivery a few hours later.

The idea is that users can return to the site and cancel the message prior to transmission but if they do not return it gets sent. Anybody know of this service.

[SlytherinAlex]

 

I think in future if I'm off into the wilds I'll put a list of caches I plan to do on my webspace and email a few cachers the link and an estimated time of return and ask them to call me if it gets much past that.

Perhaps we can get a "where I'm going" forum opened on GAGB for posting this info. It might also be useful for allowing people to team up if they are planning on hitting the same area at the same time.

[+PopUpPirate]

Always have a mobile with power. Crucial especially if on Open Access land, if you break an ankle it might be days before you are found.

 

Also when scrambling up a waterfall or similar, just because other cachers have been there doesn't mean you can't fall to your death.

[+douglasf]

I remember hearing of a website designed to allow users to store a message for delivery a few hours later.

The idea is that users can return to the site and cancel the message prior to transmission but if they do not return it gets sent. Anybody know of this service.

 

Actually if you use MS Outlook (not sure about the Express version) you can do this with a new mail. Start a new mail and select Options. Here you will see an option Do Not Deliver Before.. where you can fill in a time and date. You could set this and then delete it when you returned (or not). This at least works here at my employer - it should work at home but you may need to leave your PC on I imagine.

[+GAGB committee]

 

I think in future if I'm off into the wilds I'll put a list of caches I plan to do on my webspace and email a few cachers the link and an estimated time of return and ask them to call me if it gets much past that.

Perhaps we can get a "where I'm going" forum opened on GAGB for posting this info. It might also be useful for allowing people to team up if they are planning on hitting the same area at the same time.

 

In order to allow the GAGB committee to consider this, I've started a new thread on GAGB for people to post if they would use such a facility. You can post you views in this thread on GAGB.

 

 

Dave (The Wombles)

[+TheRoundings]

That's a good idea to use Outlook to delay the sending - it is client side not server side so, yes your PC would have to be left on. The only problem is who would notice the email and when.

 

It would be good if you could send an SMS via email to someones phone if you did not return. Does anyone know of a service that sends an SMS to a mobile phone via email?

[+dino-irl]

Leaving a message with someone detailing the area you intend to visit, when you expect to reach certain places and when you intend to return is amongst the best advice given here.

 

Just bear in mind that if you change any of the details of this schedule or if you're delayed at all to let that person know.

 

Equally important is to let them know you've returned especially if you don't live with them....might be embarrassing to have the police called out if you're sitting down the local having a few post-caching pints

[Nediam]

I remember hearing of a website designed to allow users to store a message for delivery a few hours later.

The idea is that users can return to the site and cancel the message prior to transmission but if they do not return it gets sent. Anybody know of this service.

 

There is a website called SafetyText which may be the website you were after. Unfortunately it's being updated at the moment and the service is off-line.

 

The original thread I started ages ago can be found here.

[+Family Hodge]

As well as a first aid kit, Know how to use it

As well as a whistle know how to signal with it.

Hodge

Happy safe Caching

[+Munkeh]

 

Moote

 

P.S.I never once mentioned a cache in a extremely dangerous cave

 

where, when?

[+t.a.folk]

Wear footwear suitable for the terrain .

[+HazelS]

I often cache alone, and as Rutson said earlier... I'm guilty of saying - "going caching, back tonight."

 

Usually someone will know roughly where I might be caching, butO'm guilty of changing my mind once I'm out and going off somewhere else.

As a lone female cacher I often considered the "other" dangers of caching alone, but never thought about safety wise...

 

I will always leave a list of caches I intend to visit with someone now... and although I do phone someone every now and again while caching, I may do so more frequently now.

[EagleOwl]

As another lone female cacher, I always carry my walking pole, which comes in useful for poking in places I would rather not, but also acts as a weapon/defence against an attacker. I have read some police advice on how to advoid being singled out by rapists, on of the recommendations was to carry an umbrella as you have more of a chance to slow the attacker down, and they are unlikely to chose you.

 

I recently saw a talk by someone from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust which was set up to make lone workers safer after Suzy who was an Estate Agent was abducted whilst showing someone around a house. The work the trust does is useful for all situations from kids walking to school to district nurses doing their rounds. See http://www.suzylamplugh.org/tips/index.shtml

 

I must admit I have realised in the past that I tend to leave work and dash up some muddy path without telling anyone where I am going.