Much of the time, The King’s Own reenacts military excursions, which were historically and still today dangerous. However, living dangerously is not what we are about and the following are some tips to help keep you, your fellow reenactors, and the public healthy and safe.

Fielding:

• We are often out in the sun - sometimes for unknown lengths of time. Bring and use sunblock.
• In addition to keeping adequate water in your canteen, bring and keep water and Gatorade for rehydration. Avoid coffee (caffeine products in general) and alcohol until after the battle!
• Wear period shoes but make certain that they are comfortable for marching up to 5 miles. If your feet have a tendency to blister, you can wear hiking socks beneath your gray stockings to help minimize this problem. Anti-perspirant foot spray can help to reduce sweat and the moisture that causes blisters.
• If possible, wear glasses that appear period correct. Sometimes we trample through woods and brush at a vigorous rate. Glasses can help protect you from limbs, dust, and black powder spray.
• Bring a small first aid kit. It’s not uncommon to cut a finger on a flint.
• After fielding in woods and tall grasses, check for parasites such as ticks. New England has ticks that may carry Lyme Disease.
• If you are in the field and do not feel well, stop your activity and tell your officer. There will always be another event for you to shine in.

Musket Firing:

• Practice! Practice! Practice! By drilling, you will burn all common safety measures into your head and minimize mistakes.
• Move only as fast as is safe for you. If you are not ready to fire when the rest of the group is, that’s fine. You’ll be ready for the next volley.
• Practice muzzle safety: keep the muzzle elevated so you do not run it into the ground. Also, do not point the muzzle at anyone (this includes enemy reenactors) within 100 yards of you. This guideline is also for the safety and comfort of all.
• When you fire, pull the musket immediately back to your breast and look at the touchhole. There should be a wisp of smoke funneling out. On seeing this smoke, you know that you have fired. If you do not see smoke coming from your musket’s touchhole, your musket may not have fired. Do not just reload as you run a great risk of double loading.
• When firing with a file partner, make sure the 2nd rank fires only when leaning solidly with their forward arm on the shoulder of the 1st rank. Otherwise, the muzzle discharge may be to near the 1st rank person’s ear, which will cause permanent hearing damage.
• Finally, if you do not feel it is safe to fire, do not fire - no matter who is telling you to do so.