Safe Practices for Paintball Players

Safety is one of the most important aspects of the sport of paintball. I know it isn't the most exciting, but it is the most important. Knowing how to keep yourself and others safe on and off the course allows the sport to grow and evolve so that more and more people can join the paintball scene.

How safe is paintball? It's one of the safest sports around with very few major injuries and millions of players each year. There are safe practices, ways that you can conduct yourself on and off the course, that will make you a better member of the paintball community.

Treating your marker as a dangerous weapon is a good place to start. Although the paintball markers are intended for fun and are non-lethal there is no excuse for treating your marker casually. We've compiled a list of some of the biggest safety issues for those who play paintball, so look it over and make sure that you have follow the general guidelines that keep all of our players safe. Check out our article on safety gear, too!

Never ever look down the barrel of a marker. Do I need to say it again? Never ever look down the barrel of a paintball marker. It is difficult to tell if a paintball gun is really empty and just because you think there is no ammunition left in the chamber, do not assume it is safe. Always treat your paintball marker as if it is loaded and ready to fire. Looking down the barrel of a marker, just being 'funny' or because you aren't thinking clearly could end in major injury. Never leave your finger on the trigger, even if the safety is on or you are using a barrel blocking device. Paintball professionals and expert players are fanatical about keeping other players and spectators safe, using barrel blocking devices until just seconds before play begins.

Whenever you are off the field use a barrel blocking device. A BBD is used to prevent paintballs from leaving the barrel of your marker if it is accidentally fired. Originally the first designs were along the lines of a cork for the barrel, but if more than one paintball was fired it was ineffective, so the barrel cover in the newer sock style has been widely accepted as the standard. Usually these barrel blocking devices take the form of a neoprene sock or 'condom' for your marker barrel that hooks around the hopper or butt of the paintball gun to keep it firmly in place. These are designed to catch multiple paintballs that are accidentally fired, keeping everyone safe. Most courses and tournaments and all professional leagues require the use of these barrel blocking devices while in their facilities. An inexpensive addition to your kit, it is an necessary bit of equipment that will keep you safe.

Unless you intend to shoot it, don't aim at it. Even if your marker is 'empty' or you were just 'kidding' there is no excuse for accidentally discharging your marker. Pretending that you might shoot at someone, a traveling car or animal isn't funny and can become a dangerous situation if your marker does fire. The paintballs travel at 300 feet per second and can injure someone, particularly if they are unprepared and aren't wearing goggles. Additionally the paint inside paintballs will stain clothing, wood, cement and more so accidentally striking an object off the field can be a problem.

Keep your paintball marker on 'safety' until you are on the field and play is about to begin. Just a few seconds is all you need to remove the safety and be ready to play. When you are going to exit the field take the time to place your marker on safety immediately before exiting to be certain that you will not endanger anyone off the field. This is something that you should do no matter what, even if you think your marker is empty or if you are using a barrel blocking device. Accidents happen and you do not want to be the cause of any pain or suffering - or property damage.

Paintball ammunition is .68 caliber. Designed to be universally used by markers from every brand you can find a range of colors, prices and styles so there is no reason to use any other kind of ammunition. It is unsafe to both you and others to place anything else in your marker to try and fire. Be sure to store your paintball ammo in a safe, dry and dark location. Paintballs that are stored in direct sunlight can soften, meld together and be unusable. The same goes for your propulsion tanks, whether compressed are or CO2. Store them in a place where temperatures are consistent and there is no direct sunlight so that they will perform well the next time you use them. Never store your paintball gear in your car as the temperatures inside a car, even on a cold day can reach high enough temperatures to compromise your equipment.

Do not shoot at anything that isn't intended to be a paintball target. Discharging from the barrel of your paintball gun at 200 miles per hour and traveling 300 feet per second, your paintball can accidentally impact something or someone a long distance away. Playing in a backyard, even in a large one, is not a good idea. Paintball paint stains and can be difficult or impossible to remove from the side of a house, car, fence or driveway surface. Windows are particularly vulnerable to breaking under the impact of paintball. Whether the window is yours or someone else's you will not enjoy the experience of replacing a window for an accidental breakage. Your best option is to find one or more commercial paintball fields and enjoy your day without worrying about damaging your or someone else's property.

Always seek professional assistance to adjust your air systems. If you are having any kind of problem take it to your local certified technician so that they can diagnose the problem and make the necessary adjustments. These systems are complex and when dealing with compressed air or CO2, you need to know what you are doing so that you don't injure yourself or damage your equipment. Most paintball facilities or specialty stores will have a technician on staff, so ask around and find someone who is affordable and reliable. You'll be glad to have your system in top condition whenever you want to play.

Playing paintball is an athletic activity, so be sure that you treat it like one. Stretch before you take the field and give yourself a few minutes to warm up before charging into paintball combat. For fast-paced elimination style play take some extra time to prepare yourself so that you don't wind up straining or spraining anything. For longer days of woodsball or scenario then be sure to eat and drink enough to keep yourself fueled and take advantage of breaks in play to rest and recover.

Stay hydrated! Why mention this? Staying hydrated throughout your day- or afternoon at the paintball course will make your day much more enjoyable. Even if you don't seem thirsty, please drink, being 'thirsty' does not give you an adequate indication of hydration. Why is it important? It doesn't take long for dehydration to affect your body.

Becoming dehydrated means that your heart works harder to move blood around your body leading to cramps, dizziness and general fatigue. Dehydration can also create a situation where heat exhaustion or heat stroke are possible. Make sure that you drink water before you arrive at the paintball facility and then continue to take breaks to rehydrate throughout the day. Dry, hot weather is the most dangerous for dehydration, but even when it is cold outside you lose water through sweat and more through respiration than you would expect so maintain your fluid levels with frequent breaks. Fancy sports drinks aren't necessary unless you plan to play for more than an hour or if it is particularly hot, usually just plain water will work fine. Some facilities have food and drink included in the cost of your admission, others have refreshments for sale and a few have nothing and you must bring anything that you need with you. So, be sure to establish what the situation is and bring the water, sports drink and snacks that you will need to keep you fueled for a day of paintball.

Following these safe practices will help keep you safe on and off the competitive field!