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UER Forum > UE Main > Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real (Viewed 137789 times)
blackhawk 

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Re: Drowning and hypothermia
< Reply # 140 on 12/7/2017 7:37 PM >
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About 10 people a day drown in the USA.
An open body of water can quickly turn into a hellhole.

If the water temperature is warm enough you can bob: https://en.m.wikip...wiki/Drownproofing in the water for many hours to avoid drowning and conserve energy.

As the water temp drops hypothermia becomes your biggest threat to survival. In water temps below 40F it can set in rapidly.
To conserve heat when forced to wait you can use the Heat Escape Lessening Posture: https://www.boat-e.../101024_700001431/

You will become progressively more incapacitated the longer you are exposed. Use of your hands/fine motor skills is the first asset you lose and a critical one.
Your thinking will become muddled as your core temp drops as well. Quick, decisive action is paramount in cold water.

-Think- before you act; avoid putting yourself into a watery hellhole.
Once there it may be too late.

If someone does drown in cold water it may be still possible to save them in the first 1-3 hours. Correct handling of the victim is important, see below link.
Get EMTs and rescue there as soon as you know there maybe a possible victim.
A waiting medivac may be their only hope; every minute counts! Only a properly trained hospital emergency staff can handle this type of revival without causing further damage ie using the right trauma center counts.
Know the ones in your area that have this capability.

More about hypothermia and near-drowning on this site:
http://www.scuba-doc.com/hypoth.htm





Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Dee Ashley 


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Write something and wait expectantly.

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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 141 on 12/8/2017 6:31 AM >
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Posted by blackhawk
About 10 people a day drown in the USA.
An open body of water can quickly turn into a hellhole.

If the water temperature is warm enough you can bob: https://en.m.wikip...wiki/Drownproofing in the water for many hours to avoid drowning and conserve energy.

As the water temp drops hypothermia becomes your biggest threat to survival. In water temps below 40F it can set in rapidly.
To conserve heat when forced to wait you can use the Heat Escape Lessening Posture: https://www.boat-e.../101024_700001431/

You will become progressively more incapacitated the longer you are exposed. Use of your hands/fine motor skills is the first asset you lose and a critical one.
Your thinking will become muddled as your core temp drops as well. Quick, decisive action is paramount in cold water.
413967.jpg (16 kb, 380x241)

-Think- before you act; avoid putting yourself into a watery hellhole.
Once there it may be too late.

If someone does drown in cold water it may be still possible to save them in the first 1-3 hours. Correct handling of the victim is important, see below link.
Get EMTs and rescue there as soon as you know there maybe a possible victim.
A waiting medivac may be their only hope; every minute counts! Only a properly trained hospital emergency staff can handle this type of revival without causing further damage ie using the right trauma center counts.
Know the ones in your area that have this capability.

More about hypothermia and near-drowning on this site:
http://www.scuba-doc.com/hypoth.htm




Funny how this is the first post I read as I’m sitting on the Texas/Mexican Border watching SNOW fall in a blizzard-like fashion. Yes, that’s right, snow on the border!

I came too damn far to let a little snow stop me, so perhaps this post is a good reminder to bring my hand warmers... and coffee.




I wandered till the stars went dim.
Dee Ashley 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 142 on 12/8/2017 7:13 AM >
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This isn’t a hellhole, but it’s something I came across in a building in downtown Dallas. I’m no electrician, but some things present themselves in such a manner that defies any need for introduction.
The building was being rehabbed and is one of the tallest buildings in the metroplex. I have no idea if the wires were live or not. I slightly doubt it, but i wasn’t going to test that assumption! Just another reminder to pay attention and don’t lose track of your surroundings. Like I said, it’s not a hell hole, but brushing up against it could end just as badly.








I wandered till the stars went dim.
tenstop 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 143 on 12/14/2017 8:39 AM >
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I was on the upper level of an old barn the other week, it must have been 6 feet up from the ground. The wooden floor was in good shape but it still took me a good 15 minutes to move the 30 feet or so across. I will never die lol.




This and that.
blackhawk 

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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 144 on 12/14/2017 6:41 PM >
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Posted by Dee Ashley
This isn’t a hellhole, but it’s something I came across in a building in downtown Dallas. I’m no electrician, but some things present themselves in such a manner that defies any need for introduction.
The building was being rehabbed and is one of the tallest buildings in the metroplex. I have no idea if the wires were live or not. I slightly doubt it, but i wasn’t going to test that assumption! Just another reminder to pay attention and don’t lose track of your surroundings. Like I said, it’s not a hell hole, but brushing up against it could end just as badly.


413974.jpg (72 kb, 600x400)
click to view



413975.jpg (84 kb, 400x600)
click to view



Yeah that -is- a potential hellhole.
Always assume any power line is hot unless verified not to be. Multiple power distributions at a site can make this difficult to do and back feed is possible. With no control over locked outs there is no guarantee a dead line will stay that way unless you're looking right at the lock out point.

Downed 3KV and above lines on wet anything or even on dry wood or concrete can kill you yards away.
12KV and above is plain witchy stuff.
You can be "grounded" through the air and shocked.

Be especially wary of anything 600 VAC or above.
The closer you are to a substation, the more potential for large energy discharges.
It can reach out and touch you...




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Dee Ashley 


Location: DFW, Texas
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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 145 on 12/18/2017 9:05 AM >
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I was with a couple UER members, one of which happened to be an electrician, when I came across the subject of those photos (I think I had already taken these photos too). He saw the wires in that photo and immediately said, “whatever you do, don’t touch that.” I had laugh just a little, because even in my profound lack of knowledge in anything related to electricity or conductivity, that thing screamed from across the room to leave it alone! On some floors there were a lot of them.




I wandered till the stars went dim.
odinsink 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 146 on 2/21/2018 2:08 PM >
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Its very easy to get excited, carried away, hurried for the next room, next new thing, next new composition...

I was exploring somewhere in Florida recently. While we were what I thought was 3 stories up (later told was more like 6). I was walking around the top floor of an abandoned factory. There were signs of decay but nothing that would lead me to believe that the floor was unsafe. As I walked and took my images, I noticed the walls around the building were falling apart. It looked more like vandalism than decay and I checked it out. Even leaned over the edge like a jack ass. As we proceeded to walk around the top floor of this place I heard a creak and next thing I know I went through..... Time slowed down and all I could think of is all the videos I have seen of people falling through ice. They always widen their base of stability. Leaning forward and belly dragging out.
I threw my camera to the side, put my one leg out in front of me and my arms out to each side and managed to save myself. My leg went all the way through. to the top of my thigh.
Once I pulled myself out I grabbed my camera, looked at my buddy and we retraced our steps back down. At a MUCH slower pace than when we went up.

My legs were shaking the whole way back down. The stairs that were fine on the way up, now sketched me out. When we got back to the ground I had to take a second to regain my composure. We were both pretty shaken up. I have one person that I explore with regularly. We both know the dangers and when we do things we keep a 15-20 foot distance between us, in case of situations like this, or if we encounter people. I know that if I fall or die its my own fault. Hell that is part of the excitement of all of this... its dangerous. However having another person around with a cell phone gives me a little comfort. Had I been alone, went all the way through and crippled myself out there (I would have fallen about 50 feet onto heavy machines), the consequences could have been worse.

This was a learning experience to say the least. One that taught me to slow the f down.

When we left I hit the first gas station and found a water hose. All the stuff that covered the floor and equipment was all over me. Not something you want left on your skin. Spent the better part of 3 hours cleaning my gear with q tips. My equipment is all weather sealed and nothing got inside but my camera took a tumble and my uv filter needed replaced..


This is the building. You can see the wall on the side with the light blasting through. We walked all the way around the top floor of this place before finding my hellhole.
1.






Blondebabe88 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 147 on 2/26/2018 1:32 AM >
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Posted by odinsink

This was a learning experience to say the least. One that taught me to slow the f down.


That's a terrifying story. It can be hard to constantly balance the excitement of the explore with safety precautions. It's definitely something that every explorer needs to consider when going about their photography. I had issues about a decade ago in an abandoned school, the floor was seriously creaky and felt like it was going to give. The kind of give to it like rotted compact board soaked in water. You could actually feel yourself sinking into the floor. I had enough common sense to turn around. I didn't explore much after that for a long while. But it was a learning experience on one of my first adventures about how dangerous it can be to do this hobby. One I'll never forget.




"There are always door openings. The opportunities open up in front of you."
Buzz Aldrin
Hoover 


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Quiet as a dang churchmouse

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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 148 on 2/26/2018 3:12 AM >
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Wow, that's a harrowing story for sure, so glad you're alright after-all. Definitely is a powerful anecdote about hellholes, as if we needed more. What was the floor made out of up there?




odinsink 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 149 on 2/27/2018 6:47 PM >
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Posted by Hoover
Wow, that's a harrowing story for sure, so glad you're alright after-all. Definitely is a powerful anecdote about hellholes, as if we needed more. What was the floor made out of up there?


I want to say a mixture of metal with wood laid across. Not really sure it was covered in powder from what they used to make there. The floor felt solid everywhere except where I went through.




Hoover 


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Quiet as a dang churchmouse

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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 150 on 2/27/2018 6:51 PM >
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Posted by odinsink


I want to say a mixture of metal with wood laid across. Not really sure it was covered in powder from what they used to make there. The floor felt solid everywhere except where I went through.


Well hell. Again, glad you're around to tell us about this. I thought it might have been concrete. Either way, frightening as all hell. I've bugged out of a few places because of shady floors, there's never any shame in it




blackhawk 

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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 151 on 2/27/2018 7:37 PM >
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Posted by odinsink


I want to say a mixture of metal with wood laid across. Not really sure it was covered in powder from what they used to make there. The floor felt solid everywhere except where I went through.


Best to survey floors/roofs from below when possible before transversing them!
Anytime there's water damage suspect structural damage.

Try to stay on support beams, along walls and where damage is less.
Whole floors/staircases/roofs can and do collapse sometimes with no warning.
This includes concrete.
Be wary of any structure that is supported by anchor bolts into mansonry or concrete especially if old or in wet environments. The anchors can all break off at once with -no- warning.
This has happened to myself and other here...

You are in control... you get one chance.
Bug out in time if unsure.




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Blondebabe88 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 152 on 2/28/2018 3:48 AM >
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Dangerous hobby for sure. I get pissed off with some of the people my age group (early 20s) who don't treat UrbEx with the respect it deserves. Many people I see on here that just blaze up and around huge and tall buildings with absolutely no care in the world. I think it's even more important to hammer home this message to the young people... If they'll listen.




"There are always door openings. The opportunities open up in front of you."
Buzz Aldrin
happyghost 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 153 on 8/7/2018 6:41 AM >
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learned that lesson in my early teens. right before they closed up the switchboard at Fort Worden (the 3 they closed up are alarmed so best not to break in. plus its a park with a lot of old gun batteries that are open to the public so theres plenty to explore or just have fun with) i didnt watch my step and fell into a hole that was deep enough to hurt. surprised i didnt break anything.




Dee Ashley 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 154 on 2/4/2019 9:39 PM >
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I just used this photo for the scavenger hunt thread and it reminded me of this thread, so I'm going to leave it here as well. Just because.


tippytoe
by Dee Ashley, on Flickr




I wandered till the stars went dim.
blackhawk 

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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 155 on 2/4/2019 9:54 PM >
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Lol, Dee. Good point.
When on the bottom floor never assume there isn't a sublevel(s).
That includes going into buildings through windows.
Some sublevels extend many floors down...

I was in a Nike Missile Master control room years ago walking along.
One floor tile was "missing"; in fact it was the access point to a sublevel crawl space for conduits. A nasty little 4 or 5 foot drop.
Always watch where you are stepping; never move without looking first, even just a step.




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
blackhawk 

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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 156 on 3/2/2019 8:17 PM >
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You must learn from the mistakes of others—you can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.

Know when to bug out.

Your primary task is not the mission; it's to survive it intact and get home safe.
Know your physical limitations.
&
Never allow yourself to become complacent!
complacent,
1: marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies


It is up to you to learn the easy way by learning from others mistakes here.
Read and learn as much as possible, and put it into practice.
Think before you move... and control the heat.



[last edit 3/2/2019 8:31 PM by blackhawk - edited 1 times]

Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Aran 


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Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.

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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 157 on 3/2/2019 9:44 PM >
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Posted by Blondebabe88
Dangerous hobby for sure. I get pissed off with some of the people my age group (early 20s) who don't treat UrbEx with the respect it deserves. Many people I see on here that just blaze up and around huge and tall buildings with absolutely no care in the world. I think it's even more important to hammer home this message to the young people... If they'll listen.


Ain't that the truth. I see so many explorers on Instagram taking completely unnecessary risks just because it'll net them extra views if they can claim they "almost died." They don't seem to get that exploring is all about risk management, and taking unnecessary risks is one of the most irresponsible things an explorer can do.




"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

RescueMe1060 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 158 on 3/2/2019 10:01 PM >
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@Dee: the picture is a perfect example of just never knowing exactly what could be underneath your feet




http://www.flickr....rescueme1060/sets/
Dee Ashley 


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Re: Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real
< Reply # 159 on 3/3/2019 3:40 PM >
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Posted by RescueMe1060
@Dee: the picture is a perfect example of just never knowing exactly what could be underneath your feet


Yeah, that one freaked me out a little! You could see the spots where it hadn't caved in yet... but it wanted to.




I wandered till the stars went dim.
UER Forum > UE Main > Freefallin'... Hellholes are Real (Viewed 137789 times)
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