Whether entering a cave for exploration or for rescue purposes, cavers should follow personal gear
requirements specifically tailored to caving. Clothing should be appropriate to the environment. Caves
can be wet, dry, dusty, cold, warm, or a combination of these. The wind that can exist in passages
makes chill factor a significant consideration. Undergarments should provide the necessary thermal
layers and be made of a fabric that remains warm when wet. Layering undergarments provides the
most versatile system of clothing.
Many cavers wear protective suits with a rubberized, vinyl-coated, or Cordura outer layer. In very wet
caves, it is not unusual to find cavers in wetsuits. Coveralls, or one-piece garments with no exterior
straps or accessories, help prevent snagging in crawls or tight passages. Ventilation is an important
consideration in accommodating the varying degrees of exertion required in caving.
A mountaineering type of helmet, with a nonelastic “three-point” chin strap that keeps it planted
properly on the head, is a must. The helmet protects against impact with the hard and often sharp
rock of cave ceilings and walls in tight or low passages and offers protection against falling rock. The
helmet is also a convenient mounting platform for the required light source (Figure 46-6).
image
FIGURE 46-6 Typical helmet-mounted light.
(Courtesy Kris H. Green.)
It takes only one episode of trying to navigate in complete darkness underground to understand why
every person entering a cave should carry no fewer than three light sources. Rescuers who are
underground without functioning lights become additional cavers in need of rescue. Electric lights are
preferred, but carbide lamps may also be used. At least two of these lights should be helmet-
mountable for hands-free operation, each with sufficient “burn time” capacity or spare batteries to
travel into and out of the cave. If carbide lamps are used, care should be taken when working close to
patients, because it is easy in tight spots to forget that the light on the head is an open flame that can
quickly burn anything with which it comes in contact. For this reason, most cave rescuers prefer
electric lights.
Many cavers find gloves useful for both thermal insulation and protection against sharp rocks and
sticky mud. Neoprene or rubberized gloves are popular choices, and scuba or sailing gloves offer
durable protection. If the cave has vertical components, leather-palmed gloves are necessary for rope
work. Ideally, a rescuer should carry different pairs of gloves for rope work and for negotiating a
muddy passage.
