Protection From Falling
To protect yourself in case you fall, always wear your FAS full-body harness, attaching it to the tree while at ground level and keeping it attached throughout your hunt.
- When you are installing or climbing into or out of a tree stand, attach your FAS to the tree with a lineman’s-style belt or a climbing belt.
- Use a lineman's-style belt when you are installing a hang-on tree stand, a climbing aid for a hang-on stand, or a ladder stand.
- Also use the lineman's-style belt in conjunction with your harness when you are climbing into or out of a hang-on stand.
- Use a climbing belt when you are using a climbing stand, a hang-on stand, or a climbing aid for a hang-on stand.
- To attach your FAS full-body harness to the tree, attach one end of the lineman's-style belt to one side of the harness, wrap the belt around the tree, and attach the other end of the belt to the other side of the harness.
- When you are in any type of tree stand, including a ladder stand, use the tree strap and tether to attach your FAS to the tree. If you fall, you do not want to drop below a level that would keep you from climbing back onto the platform.
- Attach the FAS tree strap to the tree so that the strap is at, or above, head level when you are standing.
- After attaching the tether, adjust both the tree strap and tether so that you have no slack in the tether while seated in your stand.
- If you do fall while in your stand:
- Do not panic. Your FAS will hold you.
- Signal for help.
- Get back onto the platform as quickly as possible.
- Use the suspension relief strap to avoid suspension trauma if you cannot get onto the platform or the ground. If you do not have a suspension relief strap, moving your legs continuously by pushing off from the tree may keep your blood flowing.