 Hello, I'm Tom Wood, and I'm the trauma program manager at Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland. And I'm Dr. Tom Veverka, the medical director of the trauma program. As we enter another hunting season, we would like to personally remind hunters throughout the area to hunt responsibly and make sure to take the necessary precautions to avoid serious injury. One of the most important things to remember when hunting is to always hunt with a buddy. Before you leave home, make sure to let others know exactly where you'll be hunting, when you plan to return, and who is hunting with you. When using a tree stand, always wear a fall arrest system or full body harness, meeting the tree stand manufacturer's association standards. Nationally, one in three hunting injuries involve a tree stand, and 82% of these accidents were the result of hunters not using a fall restraint system. When attaching a full body harness, make sure to follow the manufacturer's instruction. Improper installation may result in suspension without the ability to recover. Remember, if you do fall, remain calm and seek help immediately or implement your escape plan. If you have to hang suspended for a period of time, exercise your legs by pushing against the tree or doing any other form of continuous motion. Prolonged suspension and failure to recover in a timely manner could result in serious injury or death. In addition, always select the proper tree for use with your tree stand. An important reminder is to never attach your tree stand to a dead tree. Instead, select a live straight tree that fits within the size limits recommended in your tree stand instructions. Another important reminder is to always carry emergency signal devices such as a cell phone, walkie-talkie, whistle or flashlight on you at all times and within reach if you are suspended. In addition, always carry a knife or other suspension relief devices and think through an escape plan. When climbing into your tree stand, always use a haul line to pull up your gear and unloaded firearm or bow. Never climb with anything in your hands or on your back. Prior to descending, lower your gear on the opposite side of the tree. Another important reminder is to never use homemade stands or make modifications to purchase tree stands. When hunting, it's also very important to remember to use proper gun safety measures. Your firearm should never be pointed towards anything that you don't intend on shooting. There's no such thing as an unloaded weapon and every firearm should be treated as a loaded weapon. Also, when being handed a firearm in the field, always assume the gun is loaded. Even if someone tells you it's unloaded. When taking a shot, always be sure of what's in front of you and what's beyond your target. If you cannot see what lies beyond your target, a good rule of thumb is do not take the shot. When carrying any firearm, your finger should never be inside the trigger guard unless you're ready to shoot. This is a big problem we see with inexperienced shooters. Finally, one of the most important things to remember is to never use alcohol or other drugs when you're hunting. The bottom line is you should never carry a loaded firearm when your judgment is impaired. We at MidMichigan care about your safety this hunting season, so remember to hunt responsibly and make sure to take the necessary precautions to avoid serious injury.