Indoor rock wall climbing has become a very popular sport in the last five years and many people select indoor rock climbing walls because they offer the best safety features. People can feel safe while climbing on the wall because rock walls are made of sturdy materials that are guaranteed not to shift or come loose and fall to the ground below the climber during the time it takes to reach the top of the wall.
An indoor rock-climbing wall features boulders fashioned from synthetic material such as paper Mache and plaster of Paris. These materials are colored to look like true to life boulders and are enhanced with colored rocks that climbers use as places to put their feet as they progress higher and higher up the wall. One of the safety precautions that climbers use is to wear shoes made for climbing and this shoe style will closely resemble tennis shoes or any other shoe style that have no form of heel on them.
Teeth guards are worn at some indoor rock wall locations because the wall is also made with lifelike terrains that are fashioned from cement. A climber can lose their footing at any time on the rock wall and this could cause the mouth to come in direct contact with this building material. Even with this form of safety gear in place, it is quite possible for climbers to damage their front teeth or dislodge any tooth from its socket. Some climbers have been known to bite through the tongue even when a mouth guard is in place. Safety equipment is worn at all times while climbers are enjoying their chosen sport in an indoor environment.
Every person that is climbing a rock wall will be assigned a safety observer. The safety observer will remain on the ground and be present at all times while the climber is going up the rock face. Some rock wall climbing businesses will assign an escort to accompany a climber while they are learning the ropes. The safety observer will have the responsibility of notifying climbers if they see any safety issues that could cause them to be removed from the rock wall course.
No contact is allowed between climbers when they are on the course and some climbers are not aware that a person might be directly below them on a course. An extra set of eyes that are trained to spot mishaps before they occur is an invaluable tool that all climbers take full advantage of while they are improving their skills. Some climbers use the guidance and advice of safety observers to change their approach and improve their movements while climbing.
The safety observer will also ensure that the climber has a safety harness on and that it is securely fastened at all times. The safety harness is one of the best safety precautions that a climber can take to ensure that the climb is completed without any injuries occurring. There will be a line attached to the safety harness that will be controlled by the safety observer on the ground. Should the climber slip off the rock wall during the climb, the safety observer can use the line to guide the climber while they are lowered to the ground.