Caving is a dangerous but challenging sport. As you enter a cave, you are then entering the world of physically and mentally fit individuals who are eager to try what they call "personal discovery". This discovery may be undesirable for those who aren't prepared, incapacitated, or wounded. You should understand that even though there is ready medical support, it will still take hours to move the casualty to the surface. Attending to the needs of your wounded friend is just the start of your difficult personal discovery.

Training is one way to lessen and to be prepared on the risks that you may encounter. You'll get the most out of your caving through ample training to and knowledge of cave exploration. Mind you that you can never eliminate risks. What you can do is to attend cave exploration training.

The following are the pieces of information that you will know if you attend cave exploration training:

?Have a group composing of a minimum of four members. You may conduct self-rescue operations properly if you are four or more in the group.

?You should have at least one member holding a first-aid certification. However, all cavers must know first-aid medical procedures.

?Prior to the start of caving, you should be aware of the calling procedures in case an accident happens.

?Find out the potential risks inside and outside your target cave.

?Seek the assistance of any speleologist to give you information on your target cave.

?Determine the equipments that you should bring. Find out also if you need to bring special equipments.

?Check the physical, mental, and emotional capabilities of your team before going into the cave.

?Have an assigned secondary leader or leaders in case you have to split the group.

?Establish reasons or scenarios that may call for group splitting.

?Talk with the group about the potential factors that may cause the group to abandon the trip. Weather condition is one of those factors.

?Inform your team about the particular stages of your trip when to back-out or when to continue the trip.

?Form your calling procedures for underground communications.

?Set a specific time for the completion of your trip as well as for rescue operation. Also, provide factors for delays.

?Provide a detailed description of your trip to any authority assigned to the vicinity of the cave.

Aside from what are mentioned above, your personal equipments and first-aid kits must never be forgotten when moving underground. Aside from equipment, the type of food that you should be bringing must give you extra strength and power. Remember that you can only bring a few things. So don't overestimate your capability to bring what you can't especially if you will do vertical caving.

As a rule of thumb, be responsible for your own safety. If you are to face a danger, or currently in danger, recall those calling procedures that you've learned in your training. They're a big help in time like this.

Apart from preparing your underground equipments, you should also consider your equipments to be used outside the cave. It doesn't mean upon your arrival on the region you'll immediately enter the cave. Excitement is natural. But don't exaggerate it.