I was training in my adv. rope rescue class && it was my turn to go off the side of the tower to rescue someone hanging off their own rope. I was on the 5th floor getting all harnessed in and all and then I got on the outside of the stairwell to get ready to belay. My instructor was telling me what to do and how to do it and then asked me if I was ready ... I said "well... yea!" and he just looked at me and said "no you aren't" ... needless to say I wasn't hooked into my mainline or safetyline ... so basically I would've fallen 5 stories prob. to my death or something close to it ... so thanks Instructor Cook, you saved my life :-)
Always remember to check your equipment before you do your drills or real life senarios ... It's such a simple task to do & so many people don't and end up getting seriously hurt or even killed. Don't be confident, always be looking for something that's wrong because there always is :-D