Claustrophobic Kids

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Claustrophobic Kids

Postby amaddox » Jun 18, 2013 11:27 am

Have you ever had a kid get claustrophobic and go into a panic inside a cave? What did you do??
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Re: Claustrophobic Kids

Postby MUD » Jun 20, 2013 10:49 am

This has happened to me a few times over the years. I simply calm them down and get them out asap. It has only happened to me at the start of a trip and near the entrance so it was not a major issue.

I do love to take the kids caving!! :grin:
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Re: Claustrophobic Kids

Postby baa43003 » Jun 25, 2013 4:30 pm

In my experience, most kids (and adults) who have a panic attack in a cave, really didn't want to go caving in the first place. They only went out of peer pressure (the whole scout troop is going!) or because someone convinced them everything would be "just fine." Caving isn't for everybody, never make someone go who doesn't want to. I can tell you right now I don't ever want to be put in a shark cage, and if you make me, I will likely panic :yikes:

If someone enters a caver voluntarily, and then panics, refer to Cavemud's advice.
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Re: Claustrophobic Kids

Postby amaddox » Jun 25, 2013 6:40 pm

This is some great advice. Have you ever had a kid "act" claustrophobic but claimed everything is alright. Had a kids once like to hang out near the gated entrance, He said he was good and didn't want to leave, but didn't spend much time beyond twilight.
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Re: Claustrophobic Kids

Postby Grandpa Caver » Jun 26, 2013 6:42 am

In 20 years of taking scouts and others I can only recall one claustrophobic kid. The situation was handled just as Cavemud suggested. There have been a few kids and adults who became too cold or tired to continue and they were likewise escorted out of the cave. All this illustrates why I believe there is no such thing as overkill in the ratio of cavers to non-cavers on such trips. The group should be able to continue with ample caver supervision even if 2 or 3 leaders are asked to escort members out of the cave. On occasions when I did not feel we had a safe ratio, I have made it clear to the group from the start, the trip will be aborted if anyone needs to exit early.
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Re: Claustrophobic Kids

Postby amaddox » Jun 26, 2013 8:21 am

Brian, That's a good point. Mostly I have a few cavers friends along. Every once in a while it's only been one other caver. It is a little trickier when there are fewer cavers present.
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