low priority on safety lately

[Ardennes]

I attended a tactical this weekend that had about 100 various ETO reenactors present. There were a lot of new reenactors there - both Allied and Axis.

disclaimer: I don't mean to sound harsh at all - I too was a new guy and it wasn't that long ago

But, it seems to me that with the flood of new recruits I've seen units taking on, there has been a real lack of grinding in the safety issues associated with mock battles. I took a shot from a Russian at less than 5 feet when I was "KIA" with my helmet off (event signal of KIA/wounded). Now, I admit that with my ears ringing, I might have shouted and in reality, "flew off the handle". The new reenactor thought I was being a jerk and that it was no big deal. Sadly, this apparently wasn't the only occurrence of close quarter firing.

I haven't had to deal with this before - it seemed that if anything, the units in the area had been overly cautious. But, each one of these occurences could be traced back to new guys - (all sides) - whom didn't know or understand the safety aspects.

I'm sure this isn't a new problem - any helpful hints on how to improve safety? How are we as a hobby enforcing safety and the rules established by the various organizations??

[Brian C.]

That sounds like the fault of the unit commander, unless these guys were allowed to walk on to add to the number participating. Either way, I think you did the right thing by speaking up. Safety should be priority one in everyone's mind or else the insurance rates will kill the hobby like they have everything else.

[Paul W.]

if i ever get into that position, i shout, !!!surrender!!! they know the score if they dont!, hands up, drop to the ground and play dead. when i say !!!Surrender!!! its really saying , i saw you first, ive just shot you! die like a man. obviously i dont shout it 50 meters away at the whole 30 soldats advancing towards me

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Ardennes, you certainly did the right thing by speaking up. I too would have been very, very annoyed. At our events if you are not present at a safety briefing you do not play. Period. Everyone has to go through a basic safety briefing regardless of how long they have been taking part in events.

I have heard of one safety breech here in the UK this year. A newbie at a private battle discharged a K98 7.92mm blank round from just behind someones head, but about 5 feet away, "shooting" over his shoulder so to speak. The other person now has hearing damage, tinitus, and will be making a claim on the units insurance.
Cheers, Ade.

[Jean-Loup]

I am not used to firing rifles etc... So I understand a person in front of the rifle gets much more noise than the person actually firing??
JL

[Rolf D.]

It isn't the noise, it is the little pieces of the blanks being shot at the person that is the safter concern.

[J Melvin]

We require any new person in the field to be accompanied by someone with "experience". If you sponsor someone, you are responsible to watch over that individual the entire event.

I have seen some really poor safety briefings over the last year though. I think that the organizers are getting lax on this. Hopefully, it will not result in a death like has occurred at a few Civil War reenactments because of poor safety considerations.

[DJT]

Just curious but has anyone actually died at a re-enactment event in recent years? I heard that at the Beltring show in England many years ago a father and son were doing Viet Cong in a Canoe in a small stream a night. The canoe flipped over and one or both of them drowned? Not sure if this is true but very sad if it was.

Regards,

Des

[J Melvin]

At the 140th anniversary of Gettysburg, just earlier this year, a Frenchman visiting the US to participate at the reenactment was loaned a loaded pistol. He killed a fellow reenactor.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Des, the story about the lad who died at Beltring is sadly true. This happened in the year 2000 if I recall correctly? The lad who died was Terry Elliot's son. (I am sorry but I cannot recall his name.) Terry is a nice chap who runs the 40's "disco" at the show. His son went canoeing wearing kit, not entirely sure what, and was a non swimmer by all accounts. This was not part of a staged re enactment but something he did himself one evening. A tragic accident. I think he was only 17?
The show organisers offered to cancel the rest of show as a mark of respect but Terry said his son would have wanted it to go on.
Cheers, Ade.

[916GR]

Hi Ardennes,

Here in the UK, safety has become more of an issue especially with the ever increasing restrictions of guns (the government are considering banning import / sales of blank firing pistols in the near future). Within my association (WWII Living History Association) all members have to qualify as proficient in the use of all the weapons that would be used by that nationality. This is then reflected in a card that has to be carried by all members, signed by the unit commander and safety officer. We are not allowed to fire / use any weapons that we have not qualified on.

Also with private battles we also try to 'buddy up' with new guys in order to get them used to 'fighting safely'

Regards,

Dieter