Would you want to get hurt or lost inside a big cave?
How would you find your way out if your favorite
flashlight ran out of batteries? Every year, lots of
people explore caves. We should always try to make
sure our spelunking inside a cave is fun, not dangerous.
These are some things that cavers try to remember:
Caves are dark places. When you go inside a cave, there might not be much natural light. Sometimes, people have to stay inside a cave almost all day long to see everything. You should always bring at least 2 light sources with you, even if you just want to make a short trip. You never know when you might need another flashlight.
Also, never go into a cave without a good map and a compass, even if you've been there before! Orienteering is very important. Caves can look much different when you are going back out them, so bring a trusty map!
All caves are hard to crawl through if you don't have knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, or a helmet. Without those things you might scrape yourself. A helmet is good just in case you bump your head, and it can hold a flashlight for you while you read your map.
Last but not least, if you think you might be climbing a rope, make sure you wear a harness so you don't fall. Falling is the most dangerous thing to do in a cave.
