He checks weather forecasts beforehand, in the event that the planned cave trip is affected by weather. He makes sure he has permission from the landowner to visit the cave. With his equipment, he should be completely self-sufficient and should even carry repair parts in the event that a piece of his caving equipment fails. He plans for any possible anticipated problem. And when a problem does occur, he knows where to draw the line and abort the trip.
Communication is important.
Most grottos even offer training trips every month for new members. This is very important, because cavers in grottoes know the types of caves in their area and what they require. A person can read books and magazines, but it is no substitute for personal, hands-on experience with people who know what they are doing. Now, this said, here's the basic equipment each person should carry on a cave trip. Many caves in a region require different hardware and clothing.