Paintball Safety

In paintball the rule is better safe than sorry!

Even though weapon modifications and other safety precautions are enforced in paintball, it can still be a hazardous game if all safety rules aren’t closely followed. Fortunately, most paintball players use their common sense, so this game is one of the safest sports around. In fact, according to various insurance reports, there are fewer injuries suffered in paintball then there are in golf.

The American Sports Data Inc. recently reported that paintball was the safest of all extreme sports, with a rate of only 0.2 injuries per 1,000 exposures in 2002. This is very low when compared to other team sports - such as soccer (2.4 injuries per 1,000 exposures) and ice hockey (3.7 injuries per 1,000 exposures). This means you could play paintball all your life without getting injured. These are only numbers however, and you could realistically suffer an injury the first time out. That’s why it’s imperative you follow all safety procedures.

Safety rules may vary from paintball game to game, so make sure you’re informed about specific rules where you’re playing.

The most important safety item in paintball is a goggle system or mask, that all players must wear whenever they’re playing, and whenever they’re watching a game. Paintball pellets a re designed so they won’t cause any permanent damage to most areas of the body. However, some body parts, especially the eyes, and ears, are more fragile and could suffer serious injury if struck by a paintball. Paintball masks are designed specifically for the game and the goggles can withstand a direct hit from a pellet that’s traveling at 200 miles per hour. The mask also protects the rest of your face, and the flaps cover your ears. Remember to change your lenses often, and don’t use the goggles if they’re cracked.

You should never take your goggles off during a game or when other people are playing close by. It only takes one stray paintball to lose an eye. Most commercial facilities have separate areas behind a wall or netting where it’s safe to take your goggles off. If your mask falls off during a game you should lie face down on the ground and cover your head. If you see somebody else lose their mask tell the game officials and stop the action until the player has their mask back on.

Another safety issue is paintball velocity, as paintball markers must not fire pellets that exceed a certain velocity. The maximum velocity allowed is 300 feet per second, which is about 200 miles per hour. Pellets that travel faster than this can leave large bruises, and could even break your skin or fingers. Some paintball facilities will implement a lower velocity for extra safety, but this can still be painful if you’re hit at point blank range. Because of this, some players like to wear thick clothing to cover any exposed skin.

Paintball velocity is measured by a device called a chronograph, which is standard equipment at commercial paintball facilities. If you’re not playing at a commercial outlet, you’re going to have to buy one or borrow one. If you play without measuring the velocity, you’re putting people in danger. You should check the velocity several times during a game as the temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure may affect it. You should also use a chronograph on your marker after adjusting the gun or replacing any of its parts.

You also need to use some type of barrel blocking device on the marker when it’s not in use. These blocking devices are usually some type of small bag, called a barrel sock, or barrel condom that covers the front end of the barrel. They work by blocking any paintballs that are fired by accident. A barrel plug isn’t recommended as it could fall out or be shot out of the barrel.

Remember, paintball is a physical game, and you should treat it that way by stretching before you play and by keeping yourself hydrated during action. You may find yourself, running, sprinting, jumping, dicing, and twisting and turning, etc. during a game so make sure you wear adequate clothing and footwear.

Some other general paintball safety tips include:

·Never look down the barrel of a marker (gun)

·Never try to take a tank apart to repair it unless you’re qualified to do it

·Keep markers (guns) and tanks out of direct sunlight when not playing

·Make sure the tanks you use are up to date

·Never shoot somebody with the barrel of the gun directly touching their body

·Never use a damaged CO2 or HPA tank

·Never try to alter your equipment

·Never over fill a tank

·Never assume that a marker (gun) is empty