Questions tagged [safety]
Questions that discuss about precautions need to be taken for ensuring the safety in various outdoor activities that are in scope of The Great Outdoors should be tagged with this tag.
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Why aren't ground penetrating radar drones used for hidden crevasse detection
In a few studies, researchers used ground penetrating radar to detect hidden crevasses in alpine regions. Since the cavity of the crevasse refracts and reflects differently than the surround snow, the ...
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When did the manufacture date became mandatory written on labels in Europe?
Equipment like ropes, slings, harness, etc. have the manufacture date on their label. I still have some older equipment without any manufacture date written on their label.
When did it become ...
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Do puff adders really not bite you if you step on them?
I had understood the puff adder to be one of the most dangerous snakes in the world; apparently, it kills more than thirty thousand people each year. From which I had concluded that it must be very ...
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How to assess cold water boating/canoeing safety
I’m planning a spring vacation to eastern Ontario in mid May (Bon Echo area).
It looks like Pike and Walleye fishing opens around that time. So the people I’ll be vacationing with want to do some ...
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How are canvas tents made to be fire retardant?
While reading through this question about adding a stove jack to a canvas tent originally lacking one, I wondered about the feasibility of making an existing canvas tent fire retardant. Is it simply a ...
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Sensible primary and secondary device combination for toprope soloing
I have been trying to find the "canonical" post on this topic without success - each post has its own take on the issue. And I understand that opinions and preferences abound - but I'm ...
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Munter hitch + prusik for rope solo lead climbing
Disclaimer
This is a question regarding a theoretical technique, and not a tutorial, advice or recommendation.
This technique has not been tested, and might potentially be completely unsafe.
Climbing ...
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Technique for lead solo climbing with rope
In the past I saw climbers climb alone on multi-pitch routes only by themselves (but not free solo). What's a correct technique to do this?
I know how to do it with two ropes, rope ascenders and on ...
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Is rope-soloing inherently dangerous, and if so, why?
I've never tried rope-soloing and don't have a very detailed idea of how it's done. But reading the 2015 edition of Accidents in North American Mountaineering, I was struck by how many accidents ...
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How should I check climbing equipment to tell whether it is still safe to use?
I have, unfortunately, not had the opportunity to go climbing (and thus use my climbing equipment) for a couple years. I know that such equipment, especially the rope and webbing, can degrade over ...
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What is the most secure way to grab someone you are rescuing?
Does anyone know if the forearm grab/hold (both people holding each other's forearms) provides more grip/strength then the normal wrist to wrist grab (similar to traditional handshake) if you are ...
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How to keep contact lenses from freezing during backpacking in cold temps?
My fiance and I are planning our first backpacking trip together. I am an experienced backpacker, so I can handle most questions he has and I already have most of the gear that we'll need. However, he ...
CommunityBot
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How can I find the safest place to cross a frozen river from a map?
Where is the better chance the ice on the frozen river in winter will be thicker and safer to cross?
I expect the river width oscillates between the following conditions:
on a shallow, wider, slower ...
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When did wearing a helmet become the norm for climbing?
This is going out primarily to those who have been climbing for 20yrs +
Back in the day, helmet use was optional and not particularly popular.
These days, things seemed to have taken a dramatic change....
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How to avoid land mines?
Some areas here have old mines from 50 years ago. Dangerous areas are often surrounded by barbed wire and have warning signs. However, because of soil erosion we can't be sure where the dangerous ...
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Can I safely eat grass?
A recent comment
Cows eat grass, doesn't mean you can!
got me thinking. Corn, wheat, rice, etc are all grass that we eat regularly. I am not sure the human race could survive on the planet ...
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How to safely use reverso with ferrata harness?
Ferrata harnesses (FH) can be probably safely used also for climbing, as stated in another
post.
However, I am not sure how to use the reverso with FH.
This is because in a usual FH,
the belay ...
CommunityBot
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Will the Trailhead Registry burn in a forest fire?
I posted an answer for a recent question about a forest fire that started after your hike began, that said:
Presumably you registered at the trailhead, and you have a friend who knows where you are....
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How do I tell if this single climbing rope is still safe for use?
I've lent my friend a five year old single climbing rope for a garden project. It was in meticulous condition until then.
Instead of a weekend it took him more like six weeks to complete his project ...
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Belaying two seconds?
I'm planning on doing some Grade III scrambling/low grade multi-pitch climbing this weekend. Normally just me and my girlfriend would do this kind of thing, I'll lead she'd second. But I'm thinking of ...
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Making a Make-Shift harness from Tape-Slings
I have some common knowledge about knots used for Climbing and Rope-care.
There was an incident last week, where I needed a Seat-Harness which I didn't have with me. I needed one for tying up a ...
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How to confirm/remove ticks in tough spots when alone?
When in tick country, tick checks are critical. Easier with a buddy who can look where the sun doesn't shine, but even alone, diligent inspection (especially with a mirror of some sort) can go a long ...
CommunityBot
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Should I run if I see wild dogs?
Feral dogs appear to be dangerous. Should I be running if I come across one, or should I stand fast and defend myself? They are a social animal, so they will be in a pack almost all the times.
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Would this kind of rope ascension system work?
Can i use a petzl ascender, regular Black diamond ATC (NOTE: not guide ATC), footloop and a prusik attached with a biner to my harness to ascend a fixed rope attached to a tree? I don't have a grigri ...
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What is the life expectancy of Propane/CO detector?
NOTE the following is while the camper is unoccupied and stored in my back yard.
The Propane/CO detector in my camper started going off randomly a few weeks ago. I thought it was from some random ...
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How do you safely ascend and descend the Half Dome cable route?
The easiest way up Half Dome is the cable route (rated Class 3), which looks like this.
As six people have died on this route since it was put in place, and it looks really steep and scary, how can I ...
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How to handle a dropped DSMB spool at depth
When technical diving, you usually will deploy your Delayed Surface Marker Buoy prior to your first decompression stop (eg 70ft). If you drop while attempting to deploy and it unravels at depth, ...
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Looking for Technical Information on a Gadget with Fall Detection and Reporting Capability
I am old enough to plan ahead on fall detection, but vigorous and stable enough not to need it in everyday life now. However, I no longer feel comfortable hiking alone, and would like a gadget that ...
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Hiking alone: a website that alarms the police if something happens
I go hiking alone quite often, and I don't have many people other than myself in my entire life to whom I can say "I'm going here alone. Call the police if you can't reach me"
Is there an ...
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Disposing of live ammunition
While out hiking today, I came across a spot where someone had fired off a couple dozen shotgun shells, then left the spent cartridges lying around. Dealing with those was simple (put them in my ...
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Is it safe to use a motorcycle helmet instead of a skiing helmet for skiing?
I have a perfectly good motorcycle helmet (one that encompasses the whole head, including the chin) that I never use (I bought it for lessons, but never bought a motorcycle). However, I do not have a ...
CommunityBot
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Why are these acceptable and safe anchors?
Everyone knows redundancy is chief when building climbing anchors. However, I have seen several types of anchors that don't appear to be fully redundant due to a single ring providing the master point....
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What could possibly go wrong in Sarek?
I want to go hiking in Sweden this summer with a few friends (forming a group of about 5-7 people) for one or two weeks. The goals we targeted were mainly Kungsleden and Sarek. While a hike on ...
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Under what circumstances, if any, can thunder by itself cause damage?
We had an extremely impressive thunderstorm last night, unprecedented for the fairly moderate Northern Virginia weather, and impressive probably in most places. I was glad not to be in a tent.
I was ...
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What are the pros and cons of ice axe leashes?
My ice ax came with a leash already on it and I have never had any problems with it, but almost all of the other ice axes that I have seen in use lacked one.
One obvious pro is in case of dropping ...
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Soft catch for much lighter climber
One of my friends is just starting to get into lead climbing. I'd like to find some good approaches for providing them with a soft catch if they fall. However, there is a big weight difference ...
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Is it feasible that a black bear could kill a man with a single swat?
A recent post said:
a black bear can kill a man (or a dog) with a single swat of its paw.
I suppose anything is possible. But is it realistic? Has it ever happened?
Googling 'man killed by ...
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Had to drink untreated water: Any immediate action to avoid getting sick?
In the wilderness yesterday I ran out of water and did not think I could hike out safely at my level of hydration. Lacking a treatment method, I drank 1.5 liters of water directly out of a small, ...
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Is it worth to use LEP flashlights as a tactical or EDC?
LEP (laser excited phosphor) is the new technology of flashlights to use, with extra brightness. I get some cons to use LEP, like its effect on eyes if the light beam is applied directly to them.
I ...
CommunityBot
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How to safely store a propane/butane/isobutane canister in a vehicle?
The canisters that I have purchased so far have included a warning not to let the canister get above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It looks like the inside of car can get well above that, hot enough to bake ...
CommunityBot
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Do long/high beams on a car work to warn moose off the road?
I heard what sounded like an old wives' tale some time ago: If you are driving along a stretch of road with a moose warning, using headlights on long/high beam even during daylight will warn moose off ...
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Why be passive while attacked by a brown bear?
Recently I walked through Dolomites in Italy, and there was a warning sign that this is bear-encounter area. There were tips on what to do in general. But one of tips was "if bear approaches you ...
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Are there reusable inflatable life vests (or PFDs)?
Inflatable life vests and PFDs that I have seen so far are meant to be inflated in emergency (either by mouth or CO2 cartridge). I didn't use them myself but they don't look like they could be ...
CommunityBot
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Canoeing in a thunderstorm
What are your chances of getting struck by lightning in a canoe? I've done a lot of canoeing on stormy lakes before, but when the thunder comes what is the real risk of getting struck by lighting?
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Rock climbing over edge - What can I put under the rope to protect it?
I am working on a very fun problem with an overhung roof that induces serious rope drag (Goat Rock Roof @ Castle Rock if you know it). I am very nervous about training this beta intensive problem ...
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How to warm up your cold toes and fingers?
In winter your hand and feet (especially toes and fingers) may get painfully cold or you may even stop feeling them. How can you warm them up?
This usually happens, when it's below 0°С or when it's ...
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Resources for camping in Georgia (country)
Is there any resource provided by the Georgian government or by any other agencies about the camping in Georgia? I would like to know about the rules and safety aspects.
Any resource on these would ...
CommunityBot
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How high need a concrete wall to be so bears can't climb it
This question is a bit similar with how high does a fence need to be to prevent European brown bear to climb it? question but not exactly (that one specifies a fence, and needs to provide vision and ...
CommunityBot
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What skills should one learn before attempting paragliding?
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of
flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider
aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a
...
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What's wrong with swimming out far?
I swim decently - no pro but I can do a couple of km, resting once in awhile. Many times, both in day and night, in the warm, summer, Mediterranean sea, friends have cautioned me to "not swim so far ...
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