Safe Practices for Aerials at Home

I attended a Safety Practices for Aerials at Home Crowdcast hosted by The Artist Athlete Shannon McKenna this past weekend.
My Google Doc outline/notes from the event are available for your perusal. My biggest takeaways and reminders to our students :

  • Much of what occurs in a studio to mitigate risks are unseen to our clientele; this sport is inherently risky, so please practice responsibly.

  • We have Studio Rules & Policies posted in the studio and on our site - these help uphold our industry standards. 
    No matter the level of flyer you are, you are part of our community!

  • Never train alone. Always have someone with eyes on what you are doing (not virtually, physically)! And have a Rescue Plan, i.e. how to get down if you are stuck in the air.
    (cue my joke about safety scissors, haha)

  • Always use a mat (a size that you can land entirely on). 

  • Always Warm Up & Cool Down (I recommend a fun playlist to keep you committed)

  • When purchasing equipment, make sure it is rated  for dynamic loads and is from a reputable/specialized vendor, not ebay or Amazon.
    Carefully store & don't drop your hardware!

  • Inquire with a professional if you are rigging in your house or yard. You are heavier on a rig point than what the scale reads...

  • Provided this has been a stressful time and we may have had time off, please train at or below your level.
    Keep it simple - focus on conditioning.

  • Be patient with yourself  <3 

If you are interested in learning more about rigging, there is a Crowdcast with Rigger Extraordinaire Brett Copes Sunday, May 3 at 3pm: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/rigging4aerialists

Additionally, I have recently seen some very sharp and sarcastic responses to rigging questions, especially regarding tree rigging. Yes, we as an industry STRONGLY do not condone tree rigging. However, responses like this do not help or educate. While tree rigging questions can be infuriating to an 'aerial professional,' please do not hesitate to ask me questions, and please know you will not get quite the snarky responses I've witnessed circulating ;)

Fly Safe & Be Well!

~ Kristen