SAFETY

• Treat every marker as if it were loaded and ready to fire AT ALL TIMES.
  
  
• Always be sure to remove your power source (CO2 N2, HPA) when your marker is not in use. Make sure it is disabled.
  
  
• NEVER remove your goggles when you are on the playing field. Ever. Almost all eye injuries are a result of accidental discharge OFF the playing field.
  
  
• Young children should wear protection in their groin area (underdeveloped children are susceptible to injuries which may potentially cause SERIOUS injury, and in some very extreme instances, death.)
  
  
• Keep markers out of the hands of children. If possible, store the marker and its power source separately.
  
  
• To avoid sprained ankles you may want to think about using high-ankle shoes as opposed to regular low-top tennis shoes. Ask Sonny about that one.
  
  
• If you bruise easily, you may want to wear a neck protector.
  
  
• Women are encouraged to wear chest protection.

Before Play:

• Inspect your cylinder before you get it filled. Stickers are not good to put on your cylinder because they can hide damage done to the cylinder. If your cylinder hits the ground at any time, be sure to have it inspected before you fill it.
  
  
• Your face and eye protection are the most important safety element for a safe paintball experience. Always check for cracks in the lenses, starting around the edges. Make sure that you use eye protection specifically designed for paintball. Your sunglasses do NOT fall into this category, nor do your snowboarding or ski goggles. Your mask should be considered your most important piece of equipment, so choose it carefully and ask lots of questions. FACT: Eye injury and damage are the most serious injuries associated with paintball.
  
  
• Wear something on your head. Your head releases a lot of your body heat, so by wearing a hat you can protect yourself from serious dehydration or heat stroke. Any head covering with good ventilation should work fine. FACT: If you are experiencing headaches, chances are you are dehydrated. One way to test is by pinching your skin. If you pinch your skin and it stays pinched, you may be dehydrated. If you pinch your skin and it goes back down quickly, chances are you are OK.

Before Play (cont.):

• Hydrate properly. Playing paintball all day requires a lot of water in your body's system.
  
  
• Always be sure to measure your marker's velocity before you play paintball. Optimal shooting accuracy is attained at speeds between 265 and 285 fps. FACT: (The impact of a paintball traveling in excess of 300 fps is capable of breaking bone. Quite frequently they break skin, and leave severe bruising.)
  
  
• Always keep a barrel condom or plug securely affixed to your marker's barrel whenever you are not using it. FACT: Some injuries occur off the field because players remove their masks and their markers accidentally discharge and hit people in vital areas.
  
  
• Never leave your marker and cylinder in the sun. By heating the gasses in your power supply, you can cause a very volatile and potentially dangerous situation.
  

Before Play (cont.):

• Do not overfill your cylinder. Pushing your cylinder's capacity to its limits causes the burst disk to blow. In the event the burst disk does blow, always be sure to replace the burst disk, the nut, and the washer.
  
  
• Do not tamper with any safety features on your marker. Consult with your marker's manufacturer or a certified technician before attempting to make major repairs or alterations to your marker. Work on your marker ONLY after you have removed the power source and de-gassed the marker, and be sure to wear goggles.
  
  
• Keep the marker on safe until you are ready to shoot it.
  
  
• Do not shoot ANYTHING other than paintballs through your marker.
  
  
• Only play paintball at INSURED, commercial fields that are well established.
  
  
• Shoot Responsibly.

During Play:

• NEVER remove your goggles while on the playing field.
  
  
• Listen to the Refs. They are there for your protection. Even if you disagree with their calls, do as they say. There's time to lodge a complaint later.
  
  
• Never aim your marker at something you wouldn't want to shoot.
  
  
• Never look down the barrel of your marker to see if there is a ball jammed, or if it's loaded.
  
  
• Never fire your marker at a person who is not wearing proper paintball-playing protection.
  
  
• Never fire your marker where potentially non-protected people may be. Sometimes spectators or people not paying attention can get injured, and it is your responsibility to spot them before they injure themselves.
  
  
• Have fun, but play safe.

After Play:

• ALWAYS remember to put your barrel condom or plug back on your marker as soon as you're finished playing.
  
  
• Always be sure to remove the power source and de-gas your marker.
  
  
• Be sure to also remove all paintballs from your marker.
  
  
• Be sure to turn off any electrical sources to your marker after you have de-gassed your marker and shot your last ball.
  
  
• Carry your marker in a bag whenever you are leaving the field. You don't want anyone to confuse it for a real firearm. Be sure to store your marker in your trunk as well, to avoid any mix-ups.