Playa Safety and Fun

SeaShell08 · Post by **SeaShell08** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 2:25 am

Hello all! Well, here is a list of the things that I have noticed. Please add to this list so that noobs and old time burners alike can get new ideas for ideas on how to increase both safety and fun on playa. Hope this helps!!!
With much Love,
SeaShell

1. Instead of buying ice, wash empty milk jugs (plastic gallon or half gallon) fill them with water and freeze them. This will create a large solid block of ice that works both for ice in your cooler as well as nice cold water as the block melts.

2. Bring vineger. Even if you do not plan to go barefoot, you may change your mind on-playa. It is important to know that the playa is so basic that it can cause a condition called "playa foot," which causes painful cracking. To avoid this, simply soak your feet regularly in vinegar or vinegar/water...whichever feels best to your individual feet.

3. Bring a shade structure (other than a tent) if at all possible. Simply blocking the sun's direct rays will drastically reduce the temperature at your camp. (Note that inside the tent will be extremely hot during the day b/c the breeze doesn't blow through it like with a simple shade structure.)

4. Always bring a bike! I cannot stress this one enough. Make sure that your bike is in good working order and that you have a plan to light it at night. (Lights at night are really important, as a good portion (possibly even majority) of BRC injuries are people tripping over someon'es bike that doeesn't have lights and/or is left in a bad place. Please be careful.)

5. Going along with the lighting of bikes, make sure that you are visable as well. Whether it's a few glow bracelets or intracit LWire creations, make sure that you are visable so that you are not struck by a bicycle, art car, or other danger. Likewise, read the Survival Guide to find out more about lighting tent stakes and other dangers.

6. As you are driving to the event, remember our principles...love the others on the road. I know what it's like to be in a hurry getting there, but it's not worth someone's life. Remember that a lot of the crosses you see along the roads out to Burning Man are fellow Burners that never made it Home. Slow down, give some room in between cars for extra stopping distance. Don't pass unless it is safe for everyone. If you see someone along-side the road, pull over if there is a place to do so that will not also disable your vehicle (WARNING: Never stop on the sand out there or you will need a tow truck! Always pull off in places you are sure are solid and far enough off the highway) If there's not somewhere safe to pull over to help them, call for help (tow truck or whoever can best help them) when you get to the next town. Most of all make sure they have plenty of water!

7. If you go out drinking, remember to drink even more water than you would if you weren't drinking alcohol!!!

8. Remember safe sex practices if you choose to engage in sex! This means bring condoms, even if you don't plan to use them when you leave your house....that way you have them if/when you need them. (For other sexual acts, you may need other safety things, but I will leave that to you because if you are ingaged in activity not protected by a condom you are probably experienced/with an experienced person you trust...anyway..be safe. If you're not sure how to protect yourself, ask around.)

...and always always always WATER! =-)

ooooh! and also read the Survival Guide, listen to the Greeters/Rangers, and check in here for various suggestions and you'll not only be fine, but fanstastic! =-)

{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:45 am

ill play
9. reduce packaging before you come

10. think about the moop factor - will that grass skirt survive the week? What about the contents of theat bean bag? what happens when that breaks open?

11. Lock up what you want to keep. Makes sense in any city. I doubt there are any more thiefs at BM than any other city of 40K, but the population density puts you in a lot closer proximity to them. Lock bikes, dont leave the good stuff unattended.

12. leave the hugh end electronics at home. No matter how tight a seal - its geting dust in it.

13. pace yourself - last year was my first wih ESD as a medic and I was amazed at how many people overpartied way early in the week, often times ruining the rest of their stay.

14. team up with a co pilot, a wingman will you. It is fun to point out stuff and have it pointed out to you and you can back each other up.

15. respect others - ask to take pictures up close of a person, and make sure climbing an art piece is part of the plan. - (last year 06' my mates and I came across a huge armature covered in people there was one guy at the bottom coordinating turns and every 4-5 minutes a new group of 40-50 people would climb it. It wasnt easy to clumb, and as I climbed it I thought "damn this thing would make a perfect trebuchet" SO I climbed near the top and 10 guys got the pendulum swinging. it was a dizzying ride that was a blast.
we all came down and then the owners came flying up in their car - screaming at all of us. Turns out it WAS a trebuchet and never meant for humans to ride - could have been catastrophic. - so be sure.

Respect also means ask before you touch, and No is NO.

16. Bring a newbie - and if you do make sure they are of the BM type and not Yahoos there to get trashed and cause mayhem.

17. Be a participant and not a spectator.

later

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:16 am

I recommend 2 litre bottles instead of milk containers.
But any ice you carry is more weight to buy gas for.
Weigh that before you pack.
I get ice in reno.
Master python cable lock is the best lightweight lock I've found.
I've used mine to lock coats down.
Plenty of theft including coats, cloaks, etc.
You can lock both wheels together when there is nothing else to tie to.
If anyone needs something stronger for generators, etc there is cutter proof chain.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:38 am

The desrt enviro is so harsh! Take care of your skin!
-Sunscreen
-Vinegar
-Aloe vera
and I see a lot of people with cold sores. If you ever had chicken pox, the virus hides in your lips and sun exposure can activate them. Bring a cold sore med to add to your first aid kit.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:58 am

Don't forget to burn in a clockwise direction, kids!

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:23 pm

and make sure climbing an art piece is part of the plan. - (last year 06' my mates and I came across a huge armature covered in people there was one guy at the bottom coordinating turns and every 4-5 minutes a new group of 40-50 people would climb it. It wasnt easy to clumb, and as I climbed it I thought "damn this thing would make a perfect trebuchet" SO I climbed near the top and 10 guys got the pendulum swinging. it was a dizzying ride that was a blast.
we all came down and then the owners came flying up in their car - screaming at all of us. Turns out it WAS a trebuchet and never meant for humans to ride - could have been catastrophic. - so be sure.

I don't know the people who did that art piece, but I think the people yelling at you may have been messing with you. I always saw people climbing that and joined in the fun a couple times. I don't think it got enough velocity to be an effective trebuchet, nor did I ever see it with the harness attached if it was. Another explanation of why you got yelled at could be a rumor I heard that someone on the outside of the "cage" was flung off. If that was true they may have been trying to protect themselves against lawsuits.

gaminwench · Post by **gaminwench** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:07 pm

LOVE THIS THREAD! On your Bike... a flag(see and be seen), bells or a horn, fur on the seat(think about it), and a basket with a permanent stash of Water, Chapstick, Goggles, Flashlight, Toilet paper(one-ply), and power food - so you can jump on your bike to chase that ***** and be gone for (?) with no sustenance worries! The more decorated your ride is, the less likely it is to *disappear*, so be creative!!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:10 pm

gaminwench wrote:LOVE THIS The more decorated your ride is, the less likely it is to *disappear*, so be creative!!

\/
I just got a new personal transport .. My kid (the red neck) you could just see: He wanted to get his hands on this new shiny toy.. I held him at bay for a few days.. Then the basket arrived.. It is white and may look a lttle girly.. He turned his nose up on riding it.. If that worked so good on him .. WAIT until you see the daisies I add to that basket..

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:04 pm

Don't be a DARKWAD

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:47 pm

If that was the trebuchet in front of the DPW camp I watched it fling the Scrap Eden piano about 100 yards wednesday night after the burn. It was spectacular. I keep a slightly burnt piece of that piano on my mantle. They launched it flaming and then we all cleaned up the debri. I have video of it on my phone that I just have to watch every once in a while.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:16 pm

Haha. I was mistaken. It WAS a trebuchet.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=F92FQdnLlSc

I missed that fun.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:03 pm

MikeVDS-Nice find on that video! I was on the opposite side of where the video was shot from. Good memories! There was talk that the operators of the trebuchet were lobbying to get the org to let them fire bomb the man in 07 to start the burn. I don't know if that was happening or if it was another good playa myth. I do know if calibrated correctly they can be quite accurate. Apparent safety concerns I'm sure will never allow its use durring high BRC population times.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:13 am

gaminwench wrote:LOVE THIS THREAD! On your Bike... a flag(see and be seen), bells or a horn, fur on the seat(think about it), and a basket with a permanent stash of Water, Chapstick, Goggles, Flashlight, Toilet paper(one-ply), and power food - so you can jump on your bike to chase that ***** and be gone for (?) with no sustenance worries! The more decorated your ride is, the less likely it is to *disappear*, so be creative!!

As soon as mine was tarted up, it was gone.
And it wasn't that flashy.
If it's cute, you really need a lock.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:09 am

skygod wrote:and I see a lot of people with cold sores. If you ever had chicken pox, the virus hides in your lips and sun exposure can activate them. Bring a cold sore med to add to your first aid kit.

Yeah....Chicken Pox...

The sun-activation-thing is also true of that other pox, the kind that you can get from kissing the wrong, uh, chicken. Fatigue and alcohol consumption (read as dehydration) also contribute. Sunscreen lip balm AND Abreva in that playamedkit.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:38 pm

Also you should be careful that your tongue isn't smashed flat with a meat tenderizer and stapled to the floor with a croquet HOOP!.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:17 pm

skygod wrote:Also you should be careful that your tongue isn't smashed flat with a meat tenderizer and stapled to the floor with a croquet HOOP!.

Oh sure, now you warn me!

B.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:40 am

skygod wrote:Also you should be careful that your tongue isn't smashed flat with a meat tenderizer and stapled to the floor with a croquet HOOP!.

Steve-O goes to BM!?!?