RNG, Wng is the expert on precision felling. I can share some of things I have been told to improve the chances of staying alive.
The key to preventing a tree falling sideways and landing on your head is to get the hinge right. Take care with it, never cut through the hinge, or make it too thin.
Before making any cuts, look up to make sure there are no dead branches above where you need to stand.
Felling trees with decaying wood is a game of Russian roulette. Leave them alone, or if you must fell them, use a rope to help control the direction of fall.
The guy that taught me said chainsaw gloves are not much use, but to always wear steel toe capped boots and chainsaw protective trousers (would you say pants?) when felling. Keep a compression field dressing in your pocket, just in case. He said many amateurs don't bother with protective clothing, of them a number will bleed to death needlessly as accidents can happen to anyone and chainsaws are not that forgiving.
Trees that are already leaning over look deceptively easy to fell, but can be killers. These need plunge cutting to relieve the tension as a standard felling cut from the back can be very dangerous - lots of videos show how not to do it, like this
Barber chair. Falling a tree gone wrong! - YouTube
