Have you gotten injured while caching lately?

[+A & J Tooling]

They should have a stickied thread near the top of the forum with pictures of all the 'incidents' that happen. That last picture would make most people think twice before putting their hand into places it might make more sense to stay away from.

[+mcrow]

My worst injury from caching has been Poison Ivy.

 

For most people it's not that big of a deal. You get itchy and put some creme on it and your good in a few days.

 

However, I'm highly sensative to it. I can be wear boots and pants with long socks and the whole bit and I will still get it on my legs.

 

Before I found out how sensative I am, I got it really bad on my legs while wearing shorts. It started out being a little itchy, then a few hours later my skin started peeling of of my legs and the wounds were weeping so bad that it would soak through the bandage and pants with int 10-15 minutes. Had to go the ER where they gave me a perscription ointment and steroids. Now I keep a tube of the perscription creme in my Caching pack just in case.

 

I really have to watch where I step. I'll even get a mild case when fully covered with two layers.

[paykersmom28]

im pretty sure i have come into contact with poison ivy - im not happy right now - ive never had it so i am clueless as to get rid of it !!!!! scratch scratch itch itch

[+Don_J]

im pretty sure i have come into contact with poison ivy - im not happy right now - ive never had it so i am clueless as to get rid of it !!!!! scratch scratch itch itch

 

Either apply Technu, or scrub with a stiff brush, Dawn dish washing liquid and cold water. I usually use a white Scotch Bright pad. Don't use hot water as it will open up your pores.

 

You have to remove the oil. If you don't and you start scratching, you will just move the oil around and cause further reactions.

 

Also, if you walked in it, wash your shoe laces. We deal with Poison oak here. I have had reactions on my fingers after walking through the stuff, then tying my boots.

Edited May 17, 2011 by Don_J

[+barraseaclaid]

this one hurt like a motherf.....no broken bones though...slippped off a fence while my arm dragged through the top of the rail!

[+Spraginator]

Worst I've ever had was last weekend. I stood up to quickly while inside a hollow tree and caught my forehead on the hanging down bark. Left blood gushing from my head for 10-15 minutes and a pretty nasty scar. Luckily, no stitches!

[+jellis]

 

This is what started this thread. It has been over 6 weeks and I can walk but can't run yet. Still wearing a brace when I go out because the ligaments are still a little weak and strained.

[+The 3 Brothers C]

My first reply to this post took place on May 11th for my first real caching related injury... An update. I decided this week that my injuries were getting no better and opted for the doctor, who believed my ankle to be a 3rd degree sprain initially, so x-rays, mri's, and pt were ordered. I have a nice big boot for the ankle, which according to the doc may have suffered irreparable ligament / tendon damage. Note to self two: don't cache alone, make sure you have cell phone, no cute Keen sandals, and lastly tell someone where you are going in case you don't make it home. Hoping to return to the caching scene soon, as I'm having withdrawls.

[trailrunner15]

You could say that the third time is the charm. But for the last three times I have been trail running/geocaching, I always seem to fall near the end of my run. So far I've only had to get stitches once out of the three times so no serious injuries.

[+Jagski]

I sprained my ankle while caching...hubby and I were at Margaritas a couple summers ago having a margarita. No plans to cache that day. On the way home we decided to do a few caches. Parked the jeep in the parking area and walked up this grassy hill towards the cache (a freakin micro in a tree branch no less). I decided that I'd wait in the car because the mosquitoes were bad, so I started to walk down the grassy hill, in my sandals. Slipped on the grass and my ankle turned and went under me and down I went. Hurt like heck and couldn't walk. Laughed about it and after hubby helped me into the jeep it was worse. He wanted to do another cache after. I didn't. He ended up taking me to the hospital for xrays.

Never go caching in sandals if you've had a margarita. Lesson learned.

 

I've also fallen while walking through the woods....not in sandals, but my shoelace caught a stick and I went down and couldn't get back up. Only to hear "wait, stay there, I have to take a picture!" Thanks, hubby

Always keep your laces tight.

[+springbok200]

Took my husband and little girl on our biggest caching day ever today. We were about 4 or 5 caches in and walked through a beautiful wood. I usually have the GPS but my husband decided he wanted to use it so wasn't as familiar at reading the clues etc. We'd walked to the boundry of the wood to find that the cache was on a bridle way and all that was separating us from it was a fence with one row of barber wire at the top! Holding on to my little girl I said I wasn't going risk getting over it so we should find another way around. By this point my husband was determined he was going to get this one and found a suitable spot at which he could get across. Now, for the funny part, the height of the barbed wire was only higher than his crotch by 1", but that one inch made its presence known. He got off the wire only seconds after getting onto and started madly hoping about, then went on to get the cache. We went on to do another 5 caches but did buy some Savlon on the way home! The information provided for this cache clearly said to approach from the other side so it was no ones fault but our own!

 

And dont worry there are no pictures!

Edited May 22, 2011 by springbok200

[+Wolfdentx]

Yes today at St.Elmo,Colo. Slipped and fell and hurt right leg could not put weight on leg so off to ER. On way home with knee brace and crutches and think pulled calf muscle. Bad thing in great caching area and can't do a darn thing for I don't know how long.

[+The 3 Brothers C]

Third update... 2 weeks ago today, (now that I have results...after waiting a week to go to the dr, waiting a week for mri & xray results) I broke my foot while caching. Note to everyone: never cache alone, always make sure you have a working cell phone that you know where it is, make sure you tell someone where you are going ... .I am a scout leader, who obviously disobeyed every scouting principle in America. Happy caching, not sure how much I will be able to do for awile...

[+SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

nothing too much more than some scratches, bumps, bruises & poison ivy. I did pick up some kneepads for a little extra protection. Although seems I need them most when I least suspect it. Most of the time I keep a pair of gloves on me, except when I forget to grab them.

[+gamemn]

I was wondering this too. I actually searched the forum for the topic "injuries".

 

My family is relatively new to caching. Only 17 found so far. We started without knowledge and ended up doing mostly roadside and urban caches. We tried a county park cache and now we can't bear to do the caches in town in high muggle areas. The parks here in Minnesota are beautiful to walk in and difficult enough to get us into better physical condition.

 

Last weekend, we went caching the day after a good rain. The trails were soggy at best. We came upon a steep decline and decided to tough it out instead of turning back. My youngest daughter went fist. She slipped on the mud and went down. She pretty much crab-walked the 40-50 feet to the bottom. The rest of us slipped and pretty much scooted down on our butts. When I slipped, I landed on my wrist. Nothing serious, but painful. I fell again later and could hear a bunch of cracks in my back.

 

I guess what I am trying to say is that, although nothing serious happened that day, I can see how something could easily happen. I see the importance of never caching alone, and the importance of bringing a cell phone with. Waiting for the weather to get better in Minnesota is not an option. We will just have to be as careful as possible and bring blankets with to sit on in the car when our butts are muddy.

[+Team GPSaxophone]

This guy was injured, but still together enough to give his coordinates to his rescuers. No mention on whether he signed the log or not.

[+Don_J]

This guy was injured, but still together enough to give his coordinates to his rescuers. No mention on whether he signed the log or not.

 

Here's another article about the incident. He was presumably looking for this cache.

[+KoosKoos]

This guy was injured, but still together enough to give his coordinates to his rescuers. No mention on whether he signed the log or not.

 

Here's another article about the incident. He was presumably looking for this cache.

 

Yes, he DNF'd that cache and there's confusion as to whether he was trying it again or attempting the other one nearby. A miraculous story so far, but he's still in critical condition.

[+djdiggla]

I think he was heading to the next cache personally but who knows. He could have been trying to climb out from here too. Very tragic.

[+djdiggla]

This guy was injured, but still together enough to give his coordinates to his rescuers. No mention on whether he signed the log or not.

 

Donation page for tz2008u:

http://www.gofundme.com/Zachary

 

I set it at $7000 wich will only cover starflight transport costs. This is just a starting point for the bills they will have and I hope one we can reach.

 

Please spread it around however you can. Put it in your sig, post on Facebook or whatever you feel is appropriate. They don't have any insurance. Thanks and love.