September is when most hunters start heading back to the woods to either put stands up or begin hunting, thus September has been designated Tree Stand Safety Awareness Month. Hunting from a tree stand can be a safe and enjoyable way to hunt—as long as hunters follow a few basic safety principles. The good news is that due to a concerted effort from the outdoors and hunting industries, there has been a 42.8% reduction over the last four years of the estimated number of tree stand falls requiring emergency care. However, now is not the time to become complacent, says the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation (TSSA).
To help with this ongoing effort, TSSA, based on feedback from across the industry and help from North American Whitetail’s Stan Potts, has launched an initiative called “ABCs of Tree Stand Safety Interactive,” which provides users with a click-and-watch short video series on the ABCs.
“By practicing these four simple steps, you can fully enjoy your tree stand hunting experience and come home safe to your family and friends,” said TSSA President Glen Mayhew. “If you don’t have your full-body harness, DON’T CLIMB, and hunt from the ground.”
Hunters and members of the industry alike can help spread the message of the TSSA Foundation, and September is Tree Stand Safety Awareness Month. Visit the TSSA on social media at facebook.com/Treestandsafetyawareness and twitter.com/treestandsafety or our website Treestandsafetyawareness.org.
TSSA Foundation is a grassroots 501(c)(3) organization that serves the industry as a resource with its sole focus on significantly reducing tree stand accidents through promotion, education and best practices. For more info on the SSA Foundation, contact Glen Mayhew, President, at [email protected]; 540-526-5157 or Jay Everett at [email protected]; 256-773-7732.
