Safety

The daily and thus permanent Education in the safe handling of the biathlon weapons used is often underestimated, not to say that this often basically does not take place at all.

Above all, all those involved must acquire and possess confidence in their daily handling of weapons, since the danger does not come from the weapons themselves, but from improper handling of them. For this purpose, only a few generally valid principles or rules, which have proven themselves in other areas in which weapons are also handled, are necessary. These are extremely easy to transfer to the sport of biathlon.

1. Any weapon is basically considered to be loaded

Unfortunately, experience teaches that practically all incidents and accidents happen with "unloaded" weapons. Therefore, the weapon must always be handled as if it were loaded.

2. The weapon is never pointed at something that is not to be hit.

In addition to other competitors, trainers or judges at the shooting range, this also refers to one's own body parts. Negative examples include leaning on the rifle with the muzzle resting on one's own foot, or holding the rifle with one hand while covering the muzzle with one's own hand. This rule is also often violated at press or advertising events.

3. The trigger finger touches the trigger only when the gun is pointed at the target.

If the weapon leaves the target again, take your finger off the trigger.

4. To be sure of one’s target.

This means that every sportsman must be sure which targets he is shooting at. This serves not only shooting safety but also his own competition result. Furthermore, he is basically responsible for every shot fired and must therefore know what effect the projectiles can have.

If these rules are consistently implemented and applied by everyone involved, incidents with serious consequences can no longer occur, especially since these rules have an inherent permanent applicability due to their simplicity.