WHAT DO CAVERS WEAR?

In the cave, girls should wear:

Long pants and a long sleeve shirt or coveralls (NOT 100% cotton, the best is a cotton blend which dries faster than 100% cotton)
Thermal underwear
Helmet with a chin strap
Headlamp
Knee pads
Boots with deep grooved soles and good ankle support
Wool socks to keep feet warm and reduce the risk of hyperthermia
Gloves (garden gloves work well)
Hair tie for long hair
Swami belt (15 foot piece of 1" webbing which can be used as a rope or as a handle to help girl up)

WHAT SHOULD GIRLS BRING IN THE CAVE?

Each girl should carry the following:

A backpack or fanny pack to carry gear
In addition to the headlamp on their helmet, two extra sources of light (small flashlight which can be taped to the helmet, extra headlamp and/or candles with waterproof matches - candles work well when the group is seated for a break or while fixing a headlamp, but are not suitable while moving in the cave.)
Extra set of batteries for each light source
Drinking water
Food (enough to last through the caving expedition; 3 -5 hours)
Black trash bag to place inside helmet (helps hold in heat lost through the head and reduces the risk of hyperthermia. Can be worn over the body to warm someone who is cold and is a place for muddy gear after the trip)
Bandana (optional - to cover mouth in dusty caves, to help keep head warm and minimize mud in the hair)
Personal first aid kit (band aids, wet wipes, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads and tape)
Pencil and paper for note taking
Disposable camera
Ziploc bag with toilet paper (take it in and pack it out)

Group Leader should carry all of the above and the following:

Large First Aid Kit
Space blanket (In case extended stay is necessary)
Flagging tape to help mark their way (Always remember to pick it up on the way out)
Wool sweater or vest (in case someone gets cold)
Duct tape (to tape extra light source on a helmet or fix a broken pack)
Extra Food (in case of an extended stay)
Pocket knife or multi tool (to fix lights if they break)
Whistle
Emergency contact information for the group as well as local emergency rescue information
Health history for each member of the group
Any medication that group members may need to take throughout the day
Map of the cave (if available)
30 feet of 1" webbing in case a long rope is needed

Note: Since the onset of White Nose Syndrome in the United States' bat community, it is extremely important for all cavers to clean and disinfect all caving clothing and equipment after each cave they visit. See the National Speleological Society (NSS) section regarding White Nose Syndrome for more information and instructions for cleaning.

Disclaimer

Liability of authors and publisher
The authors and publisher of this document make no representation and offer no warranty about the quality, safety, contents, performance, merchantability, noninfringement, or suitability of the material in this brochure. Neither authors nor the publisher are liable for direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental, or consequential damages, however they may arise, even when the authors or the publisher have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Liability and assessment of responsibility
All who read this must assess the quality and applicability of this information. No liability will be accepted for the use or misuse of this information or for consequences that result from its use or misuse.