However, as with any sport that is physically demanding, you are going to get your fair share of knicks and scrapes, and twisted ankles and pulled groins. But, as long as basic safety precautions are taken, the chance for a serious paintball-related accident is low.
In fact, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, the number of recorded injuries in paintball is less than football, baseball and hockey. To really show the safety of paintball, it even has less reported injuries than, golf, boating, and… get this… bowling.
There are 0.24 injuries per 1,000 participants in paintball. On the other end of the scale, water-skiing has nearly 261 injuries per 1,000 people participating.
Markers: Proper maintenance is always the first step to making sure your equipment doesn't malfunction or break causing any serious injury. Follow the steps in our maintenance section or talk to your local paintball retailer for more details.
Most of the basic safety precautions center around being conscious of the weapon you are carrying in your hand. Be wary of pointing your marker errantly. You never know when you might pull the trigger and unload a round or two into a player at close range. Worse yet, they may not be prepared. It's easy to say, but the surest way to avoid accidentally fired paint is to keep your finger off the trigger.
This goes without saying, because if you forget to do it too many times, you will probably get kicked from a field. You should always have your barrel plug, or barrel condom, securely in place before heading into designated no-fire areas. These are areas where players can remove their goggles between games or during breaks. No one wants to see someone take a pellet in the eye from close range because the plug or condom wasn't used. If your marker has a safety, use it.
Now common sense prevails while you are on the playing field. You don't walk up behind a player and from point blank range, unload three or four shots in the back. You WILL be disqualified and possibly kicked if you choose this sort of tactic. Most fields have a 'mercy kill' rule where, if you are in a prone position and your opponent sneaks up behind you, they can call "mercy" and you will be 'dead' but save yourself from the pain of a round or two of paint.
For markers, there are a few last guidelines to follow to ensure the utmost safety precautions are taken.
When cleaning the marker, remove the power source. You never know when you have a malfunction and one of the small parts becomes a lethal projectile.
It is best to use a gun case for your weapon. If for some reason you have chambered pellets or you have stored your weapon without removing the power source (a no-no) having the case will prevent any accidents if the weapon is discharged. It also protects the marker from damage.
Keep your marker away from anyone not experienced in using it - namely children. With the high pressure gas and the pellets being fired, a serious and unforeseen incident could occur.
CO2 and HPA tanks
The only two documented fatalities related to paintball were the result of CO2 tanks. In 2003, a 15-year-old boy was killed when his cartridge hit him in the head when he was trying to remove it. February 2004 saw the death of a woman bystander who was also hit with a tank when it was being removed from the paintball marker.
You are dealing with compressed gases that make your paintballs reach speeds in excess of 300 feet per second in some cases. The canister itself is a lethal weapon and you should treat it with the utmost respect.
Make sure any modifications done to the tank, such as the addition of the anti-siphon tube, are done correctly. If you are unsure or inexperienced, leave these types of modifications to a professional.
Each cartridge or canister has a brass or nickel-plated valve that is securely attached to the cartridge. Make sure it is not loose or slightly detached from the tank. This is a sign of damage or defect.
Your tank should take only 3 or 4 turns to unscrew from the marker. If it still isn't off after the fourth turn, stop what you are doing and take the marker to a paintball professional.
Keep your tank out of the direct heat. Fill up your tank before you leave the field. It has time to stabilize and you will have a full tank to fight another day.
Don't overfill the tank. Each tank has a burst disk that if ruptured, safely vents the gas. If your tank if overfilled it stretches the burst disk and you can continue to overfill the tank until the one time when the tank ruptures.
Unscrew the valve from the paintball marker, not from the tank. This can be very dangerous. It is suggested by many players to have any modification
If your canister gets scratched, toss it. Any breach in the integrity of the bottle can pose a huge safety risk when it is being filled.
Goggles
Even though we have goggles at the end of this section, it is probably the most important safety aspect of all. We hope this aspect of safety stays with you.
If you didn't wear goggles, it would be open season on the eyes. Most players, especially in the quicker games like speedball are hit in and around the eye at least once in the match.
Here are a few things to think about as far as eye protection goes:
Use only paintball-approved glasses. The lenses used in paintball goggles are specifically designed for the sport. They have been designed to withstand the impact of several direct pellet hits.
Carry your goggles in a case when possible. Keep them away from your other equipment because the hard, sharp edged parts may scratch or crack the lens.
Keep your goggles clean. Paint wears away at the coating on the lenses. Rinse them after each match.
If you take a direct hit or two on the lenses, make sure they are not damaged, but do this when you are in the safe area.
The last point leads directly to this one. NEVER, EVER remove your goggles while engaged in battle. All it takes is one shot to lose an eye. If you are fogged or if you think you may have damaged your goggles, take yourself out of the game to check. Wait until you reach the safe area before you remove your eyewear.
|
||||||||
