Safety Concerns

[+Cycler0707]

I'm new to caching and so far it has been so enjoyable. My problem is the gash I now carry as I reached for the hidden cache, only to find the remains of a dirt colored beer bottle edge greeting my hand. I guess I'm wondering if others have experienced the same issue? I'm not talking about obstacles presented by mother nature, I'm talking about broken bottles, barbed wire, rusted metal, etc. I now pack gloves and if any search is near the ground, the gloves are on.

[+XopherN71]

Nah, I live dangerously... like today for example, I'm seriously thinking about busting out that pencil with no eraser... and using it!

[+egami]

I carry gloves. I don't like to ruin my MANicure.

[+StarBrand]

I carry gloves while out Geocaching but they generally go with the trash bags so I can grab the litter and do some CITO on the way in or out. As for grabbing the cache - I generally walk away from any cache that is hidden amongst a pile of trash and rusty sharp items. So no problems here.

[+PrincessBTigress]

I figure most accidents are just part of the game. I've seen caches with broken bottles, just carefully picked them up and removed them they went looking. If I didn't see something and got scratched or cut etc I just keep going. Scars heal and disappear, no biggy.

 

(I'm a girl sitting here with finger and toe nails painted and done up nice, used to go every other week to get a manicure, etc, but I've also been on "mudding" adventures, camp outs and hard labor community service jobs. So go figure)

[+Snake & Rooster]

I carry gloves while out Geocaching but they generally go with the trash bags so I can grab the litter and do some CITO on the way in or out. As for grabbing the cache - I generally walk away from any cache that is hidden amongst a pile of trash and rusty sharp items. So no problems here.

 

Well said! If you place a cache in a pile of discarded trash, I will not waste my time looking for it. Why anyone would want to bring me to a landfill is beyond my comprehension. I do, however, carry a pair of work gloves in the vehicle for when I stick my hand blindly into cracks and crevices. The though of a black widow hiding in there has always be a bit unsettling to me.

[+butrflybec]

Well I normally don't wear any, but if I clearly can't see in a spot, I normally grab a stick or use my hiking pole to check it out first. I haven't had any incidents yet besides getting the occasional ant bite. You just have to be "gentle" and don't go thrusting your hand into dark holes and such.

[cachpowerd]

no I have never had any problems with cuts or anything while caching. but now that I have heard that someone has been injured while caching I will have to be more careful.

[+J-Way]

Well I normally don't wear any, but if I clearly can't see in a spot, I normally grab a stick or use my hiking pole to check it out first. I haven't had any incidents yet besides getting the occasional ant bite. You just have to be "gentle" and don't go thrusting your hand into dark holes and such.

Me too - poke it with a stick first to see if anything bites back.

[+BarbVA]

We not only bought a pair of gloves but a decent flashlight for our geo bag after sticking our hands in some unexpected situations (uhmm some kind of red spider that creeped us out, lol).

[+gof1]

Please folks, practice "safe cache" at all times! You have no idea were that ammo can has been!

 

[+Tallahassee Lassie]

There are other pitfalls besides dark places. Walking into things while studying my GPS comes to mind. So does walking into spider webs (eek!)

[Pacific NW]

Unfortunately it seems like some of the good places to hide a geocache are also good places to toss drug paraphernalia, trash, bags of dog poop, etc.

[CoyoteRed]

Some folks bring rubber gloves of some sort to go through the icky trade items and moldy logbooks.

 

I do like to have a nice pair of sturdy leather gloves.

[majormajor42]

It helps to have a designated Geocaching backpack or something to grab-and-go. Besides maintence items such as ziplock bags, and a spare lock-n-lock I have gloves and hand sanitizer. I have black, military style gloves which are great for wilderness caches, for climbing and reaching into holes for the GRAB. More importantly, I carry thinner agile latex type gloves for the Urban caches. I find that any cache hidden below belt level has been possibly urinated on by man or beast. It is best to go urban caching the day after a good rain, long enough to have dried but still soon after a fresh rinse. I hate when something is mysteriously sticky. Guess I have to get used to that sensations when I have a kid. I hear they are sticky, like, all the time. ~shivers~

Edited April 5, 2008 by majormajor42

[+edscott]

Maybe we should have attribute icon for "little piece of trash buried in a bigger pile of trash" I bailed out on one like that yesterday. Just don't feel like messing about in someone else's garbage.

[+edscott]

Unfortunately it seems like some of the good places to hide a geocache are also good places to toss drug paraphernalia, trash, bags of dog poop, etc.

I disagree... any place that collects these things is not a good place to put a cache.

[+Trucker Lee]

Unfortunately it seems like some of the good places to hide a geocache are also good places to toss drug paraphernalia, trash, bags of dog poop, etc.

I disagree... any place that collects these things is not a good place to put a cache.

AMEN! Makes you wonder what it is about the hider's life that make them think this place would have any significance. or be enjoyable.

[+BCandMsKitty]

I carry a pair of kevlar lined "search gloves" for any caches I think might have sharps in or near them. And the gloves were provided for me by the Province of Ontario! One of the perks of my job.

[+Foothills Drifter]

Howdy......

Be bold...be brave...be a Geocacher... Go for it!

 

Vern / Foothills Drifter...

[+_dxd_]

I've been lucky with my hands so far, no cuts from reaching for a cache. Around here most everyone eventually gets a bit of "desert pinstriping" on their legs or arms. My worst so far was walking over some old barbed wire hidden in the tall grass/weeds. First time wasn't so bad, daytime, it just grabbed my shoe and the bottom of my pants leg got ripped. Second time I hit barbed wire, night caching, it wrapped around my left leg (ripping my jeans and taking a nasty bite on my shin) and and my right shoe = I face planted Havta protect the GPSr in my right hand and the flashlight in my left, ya' know ?

[fishdirt]

Let's see...thorns, bats, trees hitting me...nothing garbage related yet.

 

Aside from the gloves I suggest a walking stick. It helps to have something to poke around with and to navigate on logs with (would have helped friday as I came home muddied up and cold). However I haven't found a good walking stick yet!

[+Gustav129]

Atfter finding two used condoms near two different caches this last week, I have already put a couple pairs of nitrile gloves in my Small Geocaching pack.

[+TrailGators]

I carry gloves while out Geocaching but they generally go with the trash bags so I can grab the litter and do some CITO on the way in or out. As for grabbing the cache - I generally walk away from any cache that is hidden amongst a pile of trash and rusty sharp items. So no problems here.

 

Well said! If you place a cache in a pile of discarded trash, I will not waste my time looking for it. Why anyone would want to bring me to a landfill is beyond my comprehension. I do, however, carry a pair of work gloves in the vehicle for when I stick my hand blindly into cracks and crevices. The though of a black widow hiding in there has always be a bit unsettling to me.

 

I agree. I try to use a stick to make sure nothing is on the hole.