When I was younger my mom always told me to take care of myself when I was going on a metal detecting adventure. I never really realized what could have happened to me. I’ve been thinking about it last couple of months and I took action.
I’ve been researching the dangers and risks of metal detecting and I am surprised about the results. I can already tell you that there are way more dangers and risks than you would ever imagine. But what are the dangers and risks of metal detecting?
Metal detecting has a lot of dangers. You can dig up some old, unexploded bombs and bullets. In the winter you can become hypothermic. In the summer you can get a heatstroke. You can also roll your ankle or hurt your fingers when you are digging. It is also possible that you get bitten by a poisonous animal. Old lead and other humans are other dangers during metal detecting.
Of course, there a way more remarkable dangers and risks when you are playing with your metal detector. In this article I will talk about all the dangers and risks of metal detecting. I will also give you advise how to avoid these risks and dangers.
The purpose of this article is to make you more aware of the dangers and risks of metal detecting, so that we can perform this fantastic hobby in a safe way!
1. The risks of metal detecting in a warzone area
Many people try to search in old warzones because they want to find remnants of the war. They don’t even think about the dangers in these areas.
In an old war zone you could find unexploded bombs and bullets. There is a chance that these unexploded war objects explode when you are digging. It is even possible that you step on a landmine. You can also hurt your fingers when you pick up shrapnel.
When you find an unexploded bomb you should never touch it! Leave the bomb on the place where you found it. After this, you should inform the authorities as quickly as you can. They will defuse the bomb.
The best way to prevent yourself from unexploded bombs is to dig very slowly in a large circle around the specific place. This reduces the chance of hitting a bomb in the middle with your spade.
2. The risk of getting a sprained ankle
When you are fully focused on finding a real treasure, you are less aware of your surroundings. This is one of the biggest dangers during metal detecting.
When the ground has a lot of inequalities it might be possible that you roll, twist or turn your ankle. This could lead to a torn ankle ligament or sprained ankle.
My advise is to wear well-fitting boots. This reduces the chance of getting a sprained ankle. Furthermore, you should always check the surface shape before you start detecting. Good preparation is very important!
3. The health risks during the winter
In the winter there are several health risks. You can get hypothermic. You can get sick and you even can get dehydrated! There may be slippery spots in a field when it is freezing, so you can hurt yourself when you slip.
Sometimes you want to go metal detecting in the winter because there are no crops on a field. In the winter, the temperature can get around the freezing point. The cold temperature in combination with a cold wind can make you sick.
Another big problem is that your fingers and toes can freeze because of the reduced blood flow in these body parts. When your body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) you can get hypothermic.
When you are doing your best to find a treasure, you are losing a lot of body fluid because of the effort you put into it. Cold air is dry air, so you won’t get a lot of fluid in your body while inhaling air.
Cold weather also causes fewer thirst signals to your brain. The combination of losing too much fluid and getting too little fluid in your body could lead to dehydration.
My advise is to drink a lot of water when you are metal detecting in the winter. It is a good idea to dress well during the winter days. Use thermal clothing, warm socks, a warm hat and warm gloves. Be prepared for rain. So also take another set of dry clothes with you!
4. The health risks during the summer
In the summer there are several health risks. You can get dehydrated. You can burn your skin. Furthermore, there is a chance that you get bitten by a tick or mosquito. There is also a chance that you get in touch with a poisonous plant. Last but not least, you could get a heat stroke.
The main health risk is dehydration. When you are losing a lot of body fluid you can dry out. In the summer, there is also a chance of getting a heatstroke. A heatstroke occurs when your body does not have enough fluid to get rid of the body heat.
Another health risk is the heavy sunlight. You can burn your skin really fast during your metal detecting adventure. In the middle of the summer you can burn your skin within 10 minutes if you don’t protect your skin with proper sunscreen.
Furthermore, you should be aware of some insects. When you are detecting nearby ditches or puddles, it might be possible that you get a lot of mosquito bites. People that are allergic to this need to be more careful!
You should also be aware of some poisonous plants during the summer. Plants are growing really fast during summer and sometimes you don’t even know they are poisonous. If it is not necessary, please don’t touch a plant if you don’t know it!
Last but not least, watch out for tick bites. There is a chance of 2% that you get the Lyme disease when you are bitten by a tick. If you get the Lyme disease, you can get chronically ill. Always check your whole body after metal detecting in a forest or high grass!
5. The risk of coming face to face with a poisonous animal
When you are detecting in an area with a lot of vegetation, you might encounter a dangerous animal. You can come face to face with poisonous snakes, scorpions, mosquitos, wolves, bears, spiders, wolverines and more. There is also a chance that a cow attacks you.
There is always a risk that you don’t see a camouflaged animal. In this case you can step on the specific animal. This could lead to a poisonous bite.
Cows might also be an issue when metal detecting. In many meadows we find cows. Cows can be a bit aggressive when they feel threatened. The most of the time this happens when a dog sniffs a cow’s paws. If you are detecting with your dog. Always try to keep your dog close to you when you are passing cows.
My advice is to always be prepared of encountering a dangerous animal. So watch your steps carefully and try to detect with friends or family members. They can warn you when they see a poisonous animal. In the worst case they can provide first aid.
6. The risk of touching old lead
An underestimated danger is touching old lead. Old lead is extremely toxic for the human body. If particles of old lead gets in a human body, it can stay there for a very long period. The old lead can cause drowsiness, a headache, hallucinations and a lead poisoning.
Always wear proper gloves and do not eat shortly after you have touched old lead. Always wash your hands properly after touching old lead!
7. The risk of aggressive humans
Unfortunately, sometimes there might be aggressive persons. They can approach you in an aggressive way. They ask what you are doing and why you are ruining the ground. Luckily, this doesn’t happen very often, but it might be a danger.
My advice is to calm down the person in question. Try to explain what you are doing. Make clear that you are detecting in a nature friendly way. Show the person how you restore the little holes you made and talk in a calm and friendly way.
The most of the times, the person will understand it and you can continue with metal detecting.
8. The risks of metal detecting underwater
There are several risks of metal detecting underwater. You can get hypothermic if you don’t dress well. You can get a sprained ankle because you can’t see the bottom structure. You can also get a ‘cold shock’. This means that you get cramps in your body. This could lead to dangerous situations. Moreover, you can stub your toes on a rock.
Another problem could be the dangerous animals in the water. Of course, this depends on the location where you are metal detecting. But it might be possible that you step on a stingray or something. You should always watch out for jelly fish, sea snakes, sharks and so on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is dangerous to detect in an old warzone. There is a chance of finding unexploded bombs and bullets. There is also a chance of stepping on a landmine.
The most common risk is that you roll, twist or turn your ankle. This happens because you are not aware of your surroundings when you are focussed on metal detecting.
During the winter you can get hypothermic. During the summer you can get dehydrated. Touching old lead can cause lead poisoning.