“Harness Up Before You Go Up”
March 10, 2011
Have you ever tried to put on a full body harness at 5:30 in the morning when it is cold and dark? You know it might be a little challenging. Better yet, instruct your students to pick out a harness and demonstrate putting one on correctly from a pile of webbing that resembles a tangled octopus. To students this might be a daunting task. There is a solution. Full body harnesses have come along way in keeping hunters safe while climbing into and out of elevated stands.
At the 2010 IHEA conference, Hunter Safety Systems conducted one of the seminars I attended. This innovative company has designed a harness that looks like a vest with chest and leg straps and most of all, it is easy to put on. This vest comes in several different styles and can be reversed, with camouflage on one side and blaze orange on the other. It also provides a base layer keeping you warmer when the weather is cold.
I was so impressed with this design that I ordered two of these vests, one for myself and one for my wife. I have put my older full body harness on the shelf and have used this new vest for the last year. This vest is inviting, easy to put on and comfortable. Everyone who utilizes elevated stand should use a Full Body Safety harness. As instructors, we should give the Hunter Safety Systems a thorough evaluation and if it meets program standards and students needs, use it in conjunction with other full body harnesses to give the students an informed choice.
Check out the Hunter Safety System harness at: www.huntersafetysystem.com