Things You'll Need:
- Safety straps (optional)
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Step 1
Set up your hammock at waist height or lower to simplify entry and exit. Make sure the hammock fabric or rope sags slightly when mounted so that your body is not in a flat, tip-over position when you lie down. You should sink down gently when you are in the hammock.
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Step 2
Inspect the hammock regularly for signs of wear. A weather-worn rope or cord could cause a dangerous fall, so ensure your hammock stays in safe condition. Replace ropes or cords that begin to fray or tear.
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Step 3
Install safety straps if your hammock has spreader bars and hangs from a stand. The safety straps, available at Hammocks.com, are made to attach to the stand and the bar to keep the hammock from tipping or rocking (see Resources below).
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Step 4
Replace your hammock with a model that does not have spreader bars. While spreader bars stretch the fabric to open up the sleeping area, they also decrease the hammock's stability, making it easier for the hammock to tip over or for users to fall out unexpectedly. Browse Mayan hammocks, which are designed to securely cradle the body, at Hammock Jungle or a similar specialty store (see Resources below).
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Step 5
Make sure all cords and ropes are tied securely to the tree or around your hammock stand to avoid tripping.
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Step 6
Instruct the user to enter and exit carefully and avoid sudden, intense movements while lying in the hammock. Remind him never to enter a hammock feet-first.
