Trauma Suspension Relief Straps

Overview

Formetco’s Select Trauma Suspension Relief Straps are an important part of any rescue plan. They can be attached to any full-body harness that does not already have them, or used as replacements for damaged straps, giving crews a straightforward way to add this protection to gear they already rely on.

After a fall, a climber left hanging in a harness is at risk of suspension trauma — pressure and restricted circulation in the lower extremities that builds the longer a person remains suspended while waiting to be rescued. The Trauma Suspension Relief Straps are used to relieve pressure and improve circulation in the lower extremities during that wait. When the straps are attached together, they create a loop beneath the climber’s feet that the climber can stand in. From there, the climber can bend their knees and use their muscles to balance on the strap, which allows better blood flow and helps mitigate the effects of suspension trauma injuries.

Why It Matters

In a fall-arrest event, the time spent waiting for rescue is exactly when suspension trauma sets in. Having a simple, ready-to-use loop to stand in gives the climber an active way to keep their legs moving and circulation going, rather than hanging motionless in the harness. Because the straps attach to the sides of any safety harness, they work as an add-on for gear that wasn’t originally equipped with them, and they double as a direct replacement when existing straps are damaged.

Features

• Simple to use after a fall
• Unzip strap packs, hook straps together to form loop, stand in
• Attach to the sides of any safety harness
• Relieves pressure on legs while waiting for rescue
• Easy to adjust for different lengths
• 310 lb. weight capacity

The straps store in packs that unzip quickly, so a climber, or a rescuer assisting them, can deploy the loop without a complicated setup. Being easy to adjust for different lengths means the loop can be sized to the individual climber rather than a one-size-fits-all fit, and the 310 lb. weight capacity is rated for use during the rescue window this product is designed for.

Because suspension trauma can affect any climber left hanging after a fall, Formetco recommends these straps as a standard addition to a billboard crew’s fall-protection kit. Contact Formetco to learn more about outfitting your harnesses with Trauma Suspension Relief Straps or to explore other rescue and fall-protection hardware.

Download Product Information

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Browse the full Lanyard lineup for more options built to the same Formetco durability standard. As with any fall-protection gear, follow OSHA fall protection guidance for proper use and inspection.