Safety Alert- Spider and Snake Awareness Tips

*** Safety Alert Bulletin ***

Spider and Snake Safety Awareness

With the days becoming warmer or just down-right hot, one of nature’s most dangerous natural creatures is awakening – those reptilian wonders we call SNAKES as well as the eight legged creatures called SPIDERS. Before you pack-up your tool bag or walk up to those warehouse metal buildings, splicing wires, generators, AFC remotes, Fiber and Cell site locations take a refresher course on snake bite and spider bite survival!

Here’s How:

Avoid Snakes and Spiders! Know the environment where you are adventuring and the kinds of snakes and other natural hazards. Avoid dense brush, stacked firewood, rock piles, etc. – Think before you leap! If you are bitten, identify the snake if possible. As a general rule, most poisonous snakes have a triangular shaped head, and somewhat flat. Know the different kinds of poisonous snakes and insects of the area! Same if bitten by a spider, try to identify what type of spider, most common poisonous spider in our area are the Brown Recluse and Black Widow.

Watch where you step…rattlesnakes are very active in the spring any time of the day.

Tips to rattlesnake safety: 

1. Don’t play with the snake. As silly as it sounds one of the common causes of rattlesnake bite is someone (usually under the influence of alcohol) plays with the snake.

2. Watch where you walk at night. I can’t think of any bites I have been on where someone has stumbled into one at night, but I am sure it has probably happened. When I go outside at night, I always use a flashlight and actively look for snakes. They will look motionless, like a rag or other non descript item on the ground. All you have to do is watch where you step. I even do this in my back yard in unlighted areas.

3. Watch where you put your hands! One of the common bites I have seen has been a person that is hard of hearing doing gardening. I always rustle around with a stick and look prior to picking tomatoes, or trimming. Another common bite is on the golf course. The guy or gal who can’t shoot straight (like me) and ball ends up off course. They reach down, scare the snake and get bit. Often times without a rattle. No matter what – watch where you put your hands!

DO NOT LIST FOR SNAKE BITES INCLUDES: 

1. If bitten by a rattlesnake, DO NOT use ice to cool the bite.

2. If bitten by a rattlesnake, DO NOT cut open the wound and try to suck out the venom.

3. If bitten by a rattlesnake, DO NOT use a tourniquet. This will cut off blood flow and the limb may be lost.

4. Avoid rattlesnakes altogether. If you see one, don’t try to get closer to it or catch it.

5. Keep your hands and feet away from areas where you cannot see, like between rocks or in tall grass where rattlesnakes like to rest.

If you are bitten by a rattlesnake, stay calm and get to a doctor as soon as possible. The National Poison Control Center advises:

1. Stay Calm

2. Wash bite area gently with soap and water

3. Remove watch, rings, etc. that may constrict swelling of the limb or area.

4. Immobilize the affected area

5. Keep the area of the snake bite lower than the heart.

6. Transport immediately to nearest medical facility!

Nonpoisonous snake or lizard bite

If you are certain the snake or lizard was not poisonous, use home treatment measures to reduce symptoms and prevent infection.

· Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding.

· Look at the wound to make sure a snake or lizard tooth is not in the wound. If you can see a tooth, remove it with tweezers, taking care to not push it farther into the wound.

· Clean the bite as soon as possible to reduce the chance of infection, scarring, and tattooing of the skin from dirt left in the wound. Wash the wound for 5 minutes with large amounts of warm water and soap (mild dishwashing soap, such as Ivory, works well).

· Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or mercurochrome, which can harm the tissue and slow wound healing.

· Soak the wound in warm water for 20 minutes, 2 to 4 times a day, for the next 4 to 5 days. The warmth from the water will increase the blood flow to the area, which helps reduce the chance of infection.

· Puncture wounds usually heal well and may not need a bandage. You may want to use a bandage if you think the bite will get dirty or irritated.

o Clean the wound thoroughly before putting the bandage on it.

o Apply a clean bandage when it gets wet or soiled. If a bandage is stuck to a scab, soak it in warm water to soften the scab and make the bandage easier to remove.

o If available, use a nonstick dressing. There are many bandage products available.

o Be sure to read the product label for correct use.

· Use of an antibiotic ointment has not been shown to affect healing. If you choose to use an antibiotic ointment, such as polymyxin B sulfate (for example, Polysporin) or bacitracin, apply the ointment lightly to the wound. The ointment will keep the bandage from sticking to the wound. If a skin rash or itching under the bandage develops, stop using the ointment. The rash may be caused by an allergic reaction to the ointment.

· Determine whether you need a tetanus shot.

· Apply and ice or cold pack may help reduce swelling and bruising. Never apply ice directly to a wound or the skin. This could cause tissue damage.

CONTROL OF SPIDERS IN AND AROUND HOMES

Spiders are common in homes during cold weather and move indoors as temperatures drop outside, although they can be found indoors any time during the year. Their numbers usually peak during late summer. With the cooler temperatures now in the evenings you may start to see more of these creatures in your homes.

Black Widow:

Brown Recluse:

Many people routinely find spiders in their garden and many places where spiders like to hide. Favorite hiding spots for many spiders include woodpiles and basements, attics, and even closets in our homes. Fortunately, extremely few of these spiders are dangerous though. In the Unites States, just two species of spiders are poisonous enough to cause harm. They include the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) and the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa).

It is important to remember than even dangerous black widow and brown recluse spiders aren’t wandering around your house trying to attack. They usually like to live in places where they won’t be disturbed. Unless youre crawling through boxes in a closet or attic, or someplace else where he may have disturbed a spider, it is unlikely that any bites on his skin were caused by a “bad spider.” Here are a few simple safety tips to help identify spider bites, symptoms and control spider numbers both outside and inside your homes.

Spider Bite Symptoms

Surprisingly, most spider bites aren’t that painful. It may feel like a pin prick and they are often unnoticed when the spider actually bites you. Common spider bite symptoms can include a single bite mark with:

· swelling

· redness

· itching

· pain

In fact, most spider bites will resemble a bee sting. Your child may also develop hives and other allergy symptoms if he is allergic to the spider bite.

Symptoms of a black widow spider bite might also include severe muscle pain and cramps, which develop within a few hours of the bite. Other symptoms may include weakness, vomiting, trouble breathing, abdominal pain, and high blood pressure.

Brown recluse spider bites can be painful. In addition to pain, these spider bites may cause burning and itching. Another characteristic finding is that the spider bite may look like a bull’s eye, with a red ring around a white center that turns into an ulcer.

Spider Bite Treatments

For most spider bites, you can follow some simple home treatments, including:

· washing the spider bite with soap and water 

· apply an ice cube to the bite for about 20 minutes 

· give your child a pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil)

· apply a topical antibiotic ointment to the bite two or three times a day 

· apply a topical steroid cream to help control itching and redness a few times a day

· continue home treatments for one or two days, the typical time that it takes a spider bite to go away

Of course, you should seek medical attention if you think you were bitten by a black widow spider or brown recluse spider.

Outdoor Control of Spiders

If it is necessary to reduce the number of spiders in and around your home, start with nonchemical methods including sanitation to prevent spiders from entering from the outside.

• Keep grassy or weedy areas near buildings cut short.
• Trim back shrubs and other plants that directly contact your home.
• Knock webs down with a broom or a hard spray of water.
• Remove and destroy any egg sacs or spiders that are found.
• Caulk or seal obvious cracks or spaces around the foundation, doors, and ground level windows.
• Check to be sure screens fit tightly.

Indoor Control of Spiders

Regular housecleaning is very important in the control of spiders indoors. Large, persistent spider populations indoors indicate the presence of a significant insect population that serves as their food.

• Remove papers, boxes, bags, and other clutter to minimize favorable sites for spiders.
• Remove webbing with a broom or vacuum, and destroy any egg sacs and spiders that are found. Look especially around windows, in corners and other relatively quiet places.
• Eliminate insects that serve as a food supply, especially when large numbers exist. Check particularly in and under webs to see what insects have been captured.
• Shake out any clothing left on the floor or shake your shoes prior to putting them on in the morning to help remove spiders from their hiding spots.

You can supplement your sanitation efforts with an insecticide treatment. Treat especially behind base-boards, in cracks and crevices, and other places where spiders may hide. General treatments on surfaces and fogs are not effective. Most insecticides labeled for ants and cockroaches are also labeled for spiders. These products are commonly found in aerosol ready-to-use cans.

CAUTION: Read all label directions carefully before buying insecticides and again before using them. The label is the final authority on how you may legally use any pesticide!

Information provided by National Poison Control Center and Urgent Care Association of America.

Today’s blog post comes to us courtesy of Ken Oswald Safety and Security Manager for Plateau

koswald

Chainsaw Safety

September is here and many of us
with fireplaces/stoves or even fire pits will be out cutting and gathering firewood for the cool days ahead. The fastest way to cut down dead trees and get that firewood is with a chainsaw. However owning and operating a chainsaw comes with various safety hazards.

 

How to use that chain saw? First make sure you are wearing the proper clothing. Long jeans or heavy pants. Chips are going to be flying from the cutting and it can get hot next to a chain saw.
Here are some suggestions for safely using the chain saw at home as well as in the woods. Do not be afraid of the chain saw; just learn to master them and use them with caution and common sense. It is safer to use both hands to operate the chain saw even if yours is light enough to use with one hand.

PREPARATION

Read the instruction manual that came with your saw. Your manual describes how to mount the guide bar and chain, how to mix the fuel and lubricate the saw, and how to start it. Most chain saws are designed to operate the throttle with the right index finger; the left-handed person who tries to control the throttle with the left index finger will have a limited amount of the front handlebar to grasp comfortably and safely, and the chain will be running closer to the body. This is a more hazardous position for inexperienced operators.

Some models have a hand guard that also operates a chain brake, a safety feature that promptly stops the chain from running when the mechanism is tripped. Learn how to shut off the saw instinctively without looking for the switch. You can ask the dealer about these points. Ask him to demonstrate the saw.

Electric-powered chain saws are rarely used in the woods; they are practical around the home, where they are used to fell, buck, limb, and prune trees.

PRECAUTIONS

Protective Clothing

A hard hat is recommended, and goggles are a must they will protect your eyes against flying splinters and chips. Because a power saw is noisy, you should wear some form of hearing protectors. Leather gloves, hard-toe shoes, and timber chaps would help protect limbs that might come into contact with the chain. Do not wear slippery shoes or baggy clothing that could catch in the brush and cause you to fall; always watch your footing while working with a chain saw.

Refueling

Taking the same precautions that you would with your gasoline-powered lawnmower, stop the engine and do not smoke when refueling your chain saw. Do not spill gas on a hot engine. Use a filtering funnel or a gas can with a flexible hose to fill the fuel tank. Do not start the saw where you refuel it, and be extra cautious of fire during dry weather.

Carrying the Saw

Shut off the saw when carrying it from one tree to the next if working conditions are hazardous – heavy brush, slippery ground surface, or steep slopes. Carry the saw with the guide bar pointing to the rear, or point the bar to the front if you are going downhill.

First Aid

Even if you do not need an assistant, someone should be with you in case of an accident. Have the telephone number and address of the nearest emergency unit and always carry a first-aid kit when you work in the woods. If someone is cut, cover the wound with a clean cloth and press hard to stop the flow of blood. Get the injured person to a doctor or hospital immediately. (Learn how to treat cuts in my First Aid Class scheduled for Oct 21^st, Nov 17^th or Dec 17^th)

HOW TO FELL A TREE

Preparation and Positioning

1. You can fell large trees with the small, lightweight saws that homeowners usually buy, but it is a risky job for inexperienced, nonprofessional workers and demands extra caution. First, remove any wire or nails that are in the wood you plan to cut. Determine where you want the tree to fall. Look at the top. Is it unbalanced with heavy limbs on one side? How much wind is blowing? What about other trees, buildings, or power lines in the area? If these hazards exist, perhaps you should hire an experienced worker to do the felling while you limit your work to limbing and bucking the down tree. Examine the top to see whether there are any “widow makers” (dead limbs or branches) that may fall while you are cutting the tree.

2. Clear all brush, snow, and rocks from around the tree that might interfere with the use of the saw, or that might block your way to a safe retreat when the tree starts to fall.

3. Pick a safe place where you plan to stand when the tree falls. Remember that a gust of wind or a rotten place in the trunk may cause the tree to fall in the wrong direction. The tree may bounce, kick backwards, or roll when it hits the ground. You usually are safe standing behind a larger tree off to the side and away from the tree you are cutting. When trees are cut on a hillside, the saw operator must stand on the uphill side of the tree. (The same recommendation also applies to limbing the down tree or bucking the trunk into firewood or logs.)

Method

1. Assuming that the tree stands straight and has a balanced top, and that there is little or no wind, oil the chain, fully open the throttle, and undercut (notch) the tree on the side in the direction of fall (Figure 1). Cut the notch to a depth of about one-fourth to one-third the diameter of the tree.

2. Stand beside the tree with your feet well braced and comfortably spread for good balance. Put in the “back cut” opposite the notch (Figure 2). The back cut should be an inch or so higher than the bottom of the notch, square with the trunk, and parallel to the bottom of the notch. Then place the bumper spikes near the engine firmly against the trunk, and start cutting. Pivot the saw about the bumper spikes and into the trunk, using a fanlike motion and moderate pressure to feed the chain into the wood. It is not necessary to move the saw in a sawing motion: the powered chain provides the cutting action. Pivot the saw, then move the bumper spikes to a new location and continue feeding the chain into the cut. Draw the saw out of the cut slowly and with the chain running. If you must cut without the bumper spikes in contact with the tree, or if the saw does not have spikes, be careful that the saw does not jerk and throw you off balance when the chain contacts the bark or wood.

On trees 16 inches or larger in diameter, you should make two extra side cuts to prevent splitting of the butt log (Figure 3).

3. Do not cut through to the undercut; be sure to leave a hinge (Figures 2 and 4). As the saw approaches the notch, slow down and carefully control the rate of cut. You should have your wedges and maul handy because you may need to drive a wedge behind the saw to prevent pinching of the cutter bar. Wood or plastic wedges should be used if there is danger that the wedge tip may hit the chain. Wedges also may be needed to adjust the direction of fall by “swinging” the falling tree to one side or the other. Leave some “holding wood” (hinge) that is thicker at one side of the back cut than the other (Figure 4).

4. If the tree is small enough (6 to 8 inches) that an assistant can push it, you will not need a wedge. Both persons must be alert, however, and plan to leave the area without stumbling over each other as the tree starts to fall.

Caution: Always make a last-minute check to see that other persons are out of danger before completing the back cut. Yell “Timber!” when the tree starts to fall. Then stop the saw, quickly set it on the ground away from the stump, and retreat to your preselected place of safety behind a larger tree. Be alert to the possibility of kickbacks or bounces when the trunk hits the ground. Watch for failing limbs!

Lodged Tree

If the tree lodges in a nearby standing tree, its removal is a dangerous job. Proceed with extreme caution! First, consider the hazards involved. Has the lodged tree been cut free from the stump? If not, then free it with the saw or an axe. A pry pole, bar, cant hook, or peavey can be used to roll the tree off the stump and out of the standing tree. Sometimes the tree can be pulled free with a long cable or chain and a tractor. Be sure that no harm will come to the tractor driver or the equipment as the tree comes free. Be careful that the cable does not snap as it is pulled and hit the driver or a nearby worker.

As a last resort, a third tree may be fallen across the lodged tree, or the tree supporting the lodged tree may be cut. The latter alternative is a very dangerous job that requires experience; you probably should get professional help.

TRIMMING AND BUCKING

Positioning

1. Do not work too close to your helpers.

2. Do not hold the saw higher than your waist.

3. Trim the limbs from the fallen trunk while standing on the opposite side of the trunk. If the down tree is on a hillside, or if the trunk is likely to roll when some of the limbs are cut, stand on the “uphill” side.

Method

1. Start cutting the limbs from the down tree at the butt end and work towards the top. Limbs that are bent over and supporting the down tree should be Cut first on the under (compression) side, then on the top side; otherwise they may split lengthwise as the tension is released and spring back to injure you. If you are cutting the tree into firewood¹, start at the tips of the branches and move towards the trunk, cutting the limbs into lengths of 16 to 18 inches. The branches will be flexible – be careful that they do not whip about as the chain comes into contact with them.

2. When the branches have been removed, start bucking the trunk into firewood or logs. Be alert to the possibility that the saw may pinch and kick back to throw you off- balance. To help prevent pinching, start sawing partway through the trunk (or limb) from the bottom, then finish the cut from the top side, or use a wedge. See that you have a safe place to stand while bucking the trunk and limbs, particularly when they are likely to roll or shift position.

3. Do not run the saw into the soil! It dulls the chain. Keeping your tools sharp and in good working order is part of your safety program.

PRUNING

Caution

We recommend that you do not stand on a rickety ladder to prune a standing tree with any kind of saw. Pruning a standing tree from a ladder is very dangerous. Use a pole saw and stand on the ground to reach high branches. (If you must use a ladder, see that it is stable and well braced. Work without overreaching to the side. Use a hand saw for cutting smaller limbs, and use the other hand to maintain your balance on the ladder.) Hire an experienced worker to prune any larger limbs that may require a power saw.

Method

To prune low limbs of standing trees, stand on the opposite side of the trunk from the limb being pruned. Make the first cut with the power saw on the underside of the larger limbs about 6 inches away from the trunk, then complete the removal with a cut on the top side, starting a little farther out on the limb. This method will prevent stripping of the bark from the tree, which is especially important in the spring of the year when the bark cells are starting to grow. Finally, cut the stub close to the trunk. The smaller branches can be cut close to the trunk with one cut, starting from the bottom side.

OSHA QUICK SAFETY TIPS

Chain Saw
Safety Tips

Operating a chain saw is inherently hazardous. Potential injuries can be minimized by using proper personal protective equipment and safe operating procedures.

Before Starting a Chain Saw

• Check controls, chain tension, and all bolts and handles to ensure that they are functioning properly and that they are adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  
• Make sure that the chain is always sharp and the lubrication reservoir is full.
  
• Start the saw on the ground or on another firm support. Drop starting is never allowed.
  
• Start the saw at least 10 feet from the fueling area, with the chain’s brake engaged.
  

Fueling a Chain Saw

• Use approved containers for transporting fuel to the saw.
  
• Dispense fuel at least 10 feet away from any sources of ignition when performing construction activities. No smoking during fueling.
  
• Use a funnel or a flexible hose when pouring fuel into the saw.
  
• Never attempt to fuel a running or HOT saw.
  

Chain Saw Safety

• Clear away dirt, debris, small tree limbs and rocks from the saw’s chain path. Look for nails, spikes or other metal in the tree before cutting.
  
• Shut off the saw or engage its chain brake when carrying the saw on rough or uneven terrain.
  
• Keep your hands on the saw’s handles, and maintain secure footing while operating the saw.
  
• Proper personal protective equipment must be worn when operating the saw, which includes hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing and head protection.
  
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing.
  
• Be careful that the trunk or tree limbs will not bind against the saw.
  
• Watch for branches under tension, they may spring out when cut.
  
• Gasoline-powered chain saws must be equipped with a protective device that minimizes chain saw kickback.
  
• Be cautious of saw kick-back. To avoid kick-back, do not saw with the tip. If equipped, keep tip guard in place.
  

Final reminder and safety tips:

1. Follow steps in the instruction manual for operation and maintenance of your saw.
   
2. Wear protective clothing; have a first-aid kit handy.
   
3. Observe precautions while carrying the saw.
   
4. Remove nails, wire, etc. from the trunk.
   
5. Check the top of the tree for “widow makers.”
   
6. Determine where the tree will fall – be sure that no buildings, power lines, or other trees will be hit.
   
7. Select a safe place to stand when the tree falls.
   
8. Notch the tree on the side in direction of fall, then make corner cuts and back cut. (See diagram in above paragraphs)
   
   
9. Yell “Timber!” as the tree falls.
   

Safety Tips for Electric-Powered Chain Saws

1. Read the manual supplied with your saw.
   
2. Use a heavy-duty, 3-wire, outdoor extension cord for power tools.
   
3. Be careful not to trip on the cord; disconnect it while going from one tree to the next.
   
4. Do not cut through the cord.
   
5. Do not use while standing in a wet area.
   

Chainsaws can help make the task at hand a lot easier as long as you remember “Safety Never Takes a Holiday” and cut with common sense.

Today’s Blog post comes to us courtesy of Ken Oswald, Safety and Security Manager for ENMR·Plateau

koswald@plateautel.com

 

 
 

‘Bees’, BEE SAFE!

 

Working outside in the garden, trimming in your yard or just admiring some flowers this summer. BEE Safety smart. Honey bees, wasp, yellow jackets and hornets are at their peak. Additionally, Africanized Honey Bees (AHBs) in the United States are becoming more and more common, especially in our area of the southwest.

 

First found in southern Texas in 1990, AHBs are now located throughout the south, southeast, and southwest states, including California, and are more likely to attack people and animals near their nests. The danger is that AHBs are more aggressive than EHBs and garden bees. Although the sting from an AHB is no more harmful than one from the common garden bee or EHB, AHBs are known as “killer bees” because they defend their nests more aggressively and attack with less provocation–and in larger numbers. They are more apt to sting quickly and multiple times.

Over the last several years, numerous attacks have been reported in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, and Texas, and recently the bees also have appeared in Utah. A Texas man died last week from a bee swarm attack and a landscape worker in Florida was attacked recently by bees while at work cutting grass. Also recently, a worker in Las Vegas was hospitalized after being attacked by a swarm of AHBs while he was operating a backhoe.

Emergency response agencies in these states have implemented first responder training programs as well as public education efforts. According to reports, the Africanized (hybrid) bees were created in the mid-1950s when a researcher brought African bees to Brazil and bred them with European honeybees, with the intent to produce hybrid bees that could tolerate tropical environments. These hybrids, along with African queens, were then accidentally released into the wild the next year. The hybrid bees freely interbred with local bees, with the Africanized genetics preferentially retained over time, eventually dominating bee populations. The AHB trait rapidly spread throughout South and Central America, reaching Texas in 1990.

Attacks from these aggressive bees may result in serious injury or even death. Use these bee tips to help you stay safe:

• Check your property regularly for bee colonies. Honey bees nest in a wide variety of places, especially Africanized honey bees. Look for bees in work areas before using power equipment. Check animal burrows, water meter boxes, overturned flower pots, trees and shrubs.
  
• Keep pets and children indoors when using weed eaters, hedge clippers, lawn mowers, chain saws, etc. Attacks frequently occur when a person is mowing the lawn or pruning shrubs and inadvertently strikes a nest.
  
• If you encounter a swarm, run as quickly as you can in a straight line away from the bees. Do not flail or swing your arms at them, as this may further annoy them. Get to the closest house or car as quickly as possible. Don’t worry if a few bees become trapped in your home. If several bees follow you into your car, drive about a quarter of a mile and le the bees out.
  
• Because bees target the head and eyes, cover your head as much as you can without slowing your escape.
  
• Don’t jump in the water. Africanized honey bees can wait longer than you can.
  
• Avoid excessive motion when near a colony. Bees are much more likely to respond to an object in motion than a stationary one.
  
• Don’t pen, tie or tether animals near bee hives or nests and never attempt to remove a nest yourself. Find a reputable pest control company that specializes in bee removal. Check with your local cooperative extension office or the State Department of Agriculture &Consumer Services for trained and licensed pest control operators in your area.
  

Bee Sting Symptoms

Symptoms vary from local reactions of pain, redness at the sting site, and formation of a wheal (raised bump usually pale in color). Localized itching is common and redness in the first 24 hours can become as large as 12 to 18 inches in diameter. These reactions are initially scary promoting people to seek medical attention. Children less than 10 years old and the elderly older than 70 have less severe reactions than younger adults.

If Stung, What do I do?

If you are stung by a honey bee, one of the most important things to do is not to panic. Panic by the person stung or those around him/her can produce a systemic reaction in itself. Many people believe they are allergic to honey bees when in fact they are experiencing symptoms of a normal reaction. Only a very limited portion of the population (one or two out of 1000) is allergic or hypersensitive to bee or wasp stings. The average person can safely tolerate 10 stings per pound of body weight. This means that although 500 stings could kill a child, the average adult could withstand more than 1100 stings. Most deaths caused by multiple stings have occurred in elderly individuals who may have had poor cardiopulmonary functioning.

If stung by a honey bee, the first thing you should do is remove the stinger. The end of a sting is barbed and will remain stuck in the skin even if the bee is removed. Muscles in the stinger allow it to continue pumping venom into the victim, even if it is no longer connected to the bee, for up to a minute or until the stinger is removed. The sooner the stinger is removed, the less venom will enter the wound. Honey bees are able to sting only once and eventually die after they have released their stinger.

How to remove the stinger:
Do not pull the stinger out with your fingers or tweezers because this will squeeze out more venom. Instead, scrape the stinger out with your fingernail, the edge of a credit card, a dull knife blade, or other straight edged object.

Two kinds of reactions are usually associated with bee stings and those of other stinging insects as well: (1) local or (2) systemic, allergic, or life-threatening.

(1) Local Reactions:
A local reaction is usually characterized by pain, swelling, redness, itching, and a wheal surrounding the wound made by the stinging apparatus. Swelling can sometimes be sever. For instance, if stung on the finger, the arm may be swollen even up to the elbow. Swelling such as this is fairly common, even though it may be alarming. However, a more serious allergic reaction may be indicated if other parts of the body besides the general area in which the sting occurred begin to swell. For example, if stung on the left hand and the right hand or neck shows swelling you should seek medical attention immediately. Normal swelling may last up to a few days. During the days following a stinging incident, the wound may itch.
This is the reaction of a majority of persons and those suffering it are considered to be at little risk of death, unless the mouth or throat is affected so that the respiratory tract is obstructed. Many in the general population continue to believe that because they “swell up,” they are at risk of losing their life when stung by bees.
How to alleviate the sting: Swelling may be reduced by icing the wound and/or taking an antihistamine such as Benadryl. Topical solutions such as calamine may also help to alleviate pain associated with stinging. It is beneficial to drink plenty of water.

(2) Systemic, Allergic, or Life-Threatening Reactions:
It is possible to have a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting that is not life-threatening. Remember, if an allergic reaction occurs, do seek medical attention immediately, but try not to panic. Panic will only worsen the reaction. Allergic reactions to bee stings can develop anywhere on the body and may include:

• Rash or hives
  
  
• Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  
  
• Dizziness or severe headache
  
  
• Swelling that is not in the general area of the sting site, especially in the throat, neck, or tongue.
  
  
• Shortness of breath or difficulty in swallowing.
  
  
• Shock
  
  
• Unconsciousness
  
  
• Drop in blood pressure
  
  

If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical assistance immediately. Symptoms can begin immediately following the sting or up to 30 minutes later and might last for hours. Anaphylaxis, or the inability to breath, will occur within seconds or minutes of a sting.

Anaphylaxis, if treated in time, usually can be reversed by epinephrine (adrenaline) injected into the body. Individuals who are aware that they are allergic to stings should carry epinephrine in either a normal syringe (sting kit) or an auto-injector (Epi-Pen) whenever they think they might encounter stinging insects. Epinephrine is obtainable only by prescription from a physician.

Bee Sting Treatment

Outdoor Treatment and Prevention
During Survive Outdoor safety presentations, many questions have been posed about Epi-pens. Should children or adults have them if they have never had an allergic reaction? Yes, we do not know and cannot predict allergic reactions, specifically anaphylactic reactions. These can be prescribed by your healthcare provider. The ABC’s, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation, must be adhered to in that order. To learn more on the use of Epi-pens attend one of my CPR/First Aid training classes. (Contact me at 575.309.4535)

Here are the steps to take when stung in the outdoors by a bee or wasp:

1. Pull stinger out. Most venom is released within one minute
   
   
2. If available, Wash stung areas with soap and water like any other wound to prevent infection
   
   
3. Cool compresses or ice to relieve pain and swelling
   
   
4. Diphenhydramne (Benadryl) should be given to decrease minimal allergic reactions.
   
5. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, you must transport immediately and resort to basic life support.
   
6. In addition to Benadryl, it has been shown that Cimetadine (Tagamet) and H2 blocker can also help decrease the allergic response.
   

USDA Spread of Africanized Honeybees

First found in southern Texas in 1990, Africanized honey bees are now found in much of the South.

BEE SAFE QUICK GUIDE

 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND BEES ON YOUR PROPERTY

WHAT TO DO IF STUNG

STAY AWAY FROM ALL HONEY BEE SWARMS AND COLONIES. GET AWAY FROM BEES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WHILE RUNNING AWAY PROTECT YOUR FACE AND EYES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. TAKE SHELTER IN AN ENCLOSED AREA SUCH AS A CAR, TRUCK OR BUILDING. CALL A LOCAL BEEKEEPER, PEST CONTROL COMPANY, OR LOCAL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGENT FOR ASSISTANCE. DO NOT HIDE IN WATER OR THICK BRUSH. DO NOT STAND STILL AND SWAT AT BEES; RAPID MOVEMENTS WILL CAUSE THEM TO STING.

GET AWAY FROM BEES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. GO TO A SAFE AREA AWAY FROM THE BEES SUCH AS INSIDE A CAR, TRUCK OR BUILDING. PULL OR SCRAPE STINGS FROM SKIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MOST VENOM IS RELEASED WITHIN 1 MINUTE. WASH STUNG AREAS WITH SOAP AND WATER LIKE ANY OTHER WOUND TO PREVENT INFECTION. APPLY ICE TO RELIEVE PAIN AND SWELLING. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION: - IF BREATHING IS DIFFICULT, - IF STUNG MANY TIMES, OR - IF ALLERGIC TO BEE STINGS.

 

Do you know how to reduce your risks of being stung by a bee or other stinging insect? Let’s see how well you do on this quiz.

BEE SMART TRIVIA QUIZ Questions:

True or False:

1. To reduce the risk of being stung, you should avoid bananas and banana-scented toiletries.
   
2. Sweat angers bees.
   
3. The face is the most likely place for a bee or wasp to sting.
   
4. When a bee stings, it releases a chemical that alerts other bees to attack.
   
5. If you’re being attacked and you can’t get indoors, you’re better off in a shaded area than an open area.
   

All the answers are TRUE.

Information provided by the ASSE, Safety X Change and USDA. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service at www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=11059&page=3.

Today’s Post is courtesy of Ken Oswald

Safety and Security Manager for ENMR·Plateau

koswald@plateautel.com

Heat Wave: A Major Summer Killer

A National Problem

With forecasted temperatures at or near records and over 100°F this week and as temperatures continue to heat up and daily temps hover at or above 90°F constantly, the possibility of heat related emergencies increases. Heat kills by taxing the human body beyond its own cooling abilities. In a normal year, more than 175 Americans succumb to the demands of summer heat. North American summers are hot; most summers see heat waves in one section or another of the United States. They tend to combine both high temperature and high humidity although some of the worst have been catastrophically dry. Dealing with outside elements are critical to our proper health and wellness.

National Weather Service Heat Index Program

Considering this tragic death toll, the National Weather Service (NWS) has stepped up its efforts to alert more effectively the general public and appropriate authorities to the hazards of heat waves-those prolonged excessive heat/humidity episodes.

Based on the latest research findings, the NWS has devised the “Heat Index” (HI), (sometimes referred to as the “apparent temperature”). The HI, given in degrees F, is an accurate measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity (RH) is added to the actual air temperature.

To find the HI, look at the Heat Index Chart (Below). As an example, if the air temperature is 96°F (found on the top side of the table) and the RH is 55% (found at the left of the table), the HI-or how hot it really feels-is 112°F. This is at the intersection of the 96° row and the 55% column.  Listed as a Danger condition.

IMPORTANT: Since HI values were devised for shady, light wind conditions, EXPOSURE TO FULL SUNSHINE CAN INCREASE HI VALUES BY UP TO 15°F. Also, STRONG WINDS, PARTICULARLY WITH VERY HOT, DRY AIR, CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS.

Heat Index/Heat Disorders: Possible heat disorders for people in higher risk groups.

Heat Index of 130° OR Higher: HEATSTROKE/SUNSTROKE HIGHLY HIGHER LIKELY WITH CONTINUED EXPOSURE,

Heat Index of 105°- 130°: SUNSTROKE, HEAT CRAMPS OR HEAT EXHAUSTION LIKELY, AND HEATSTROKE POSSIBLE WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE AND/OR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

Heat Index of 90°- 105°:
SUNSTROKE, HEAT CRAMPS AND HEAT EXHAUSTION POSSIBLE WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE AND/OR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

Heat Index of 80° – 90°:
FATIGUE POSSIBLE WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE AND/OR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Note on the HI chart the shaded zone above 105°F. This corresponds to a level of HI that may cause increasingly severe heat disorders with continued exposure and/or physical activity.

Heat Index Table

HEAT INDEX	affects on the human body
130 or above	heat stroke highly likely with continued exposure
105 to 130	heat stroke likely with prolonged exposure
90 to 105	heat stroke possible with prolonged exposure

Summary of NWS’s Alert Procedures

The NWS will initiate alert procedures when the HI is expected to exceed 105°- 1 10°F (depending on local climate) for at least two consecutive days. The procedures are:

• Include HI values in zone and city forecasts.
  
• Issue Special Weather Statements and/or Public Information Statements presenting a detailed discussion of
  
  • Extent of the hazard including HI values
    
  • Who is most at risk
    
  • Safety rules for reducing the risk.
    
• Assist state/local health officials in preparing Civil Emergency Messages in severe heat waves. Meteorological information from Special Weather Statements will be included as well as more detailed medical information, advice, and names and telephone numbers of health officials.
  
• Release to the media and over NOAA’s own Weather Radio all of the above information.
  

How Heat Affects the Body Human

Human bodies dissipate heat by varying the rate and depth of blood circulation, by losing water through the skin and sweat glands, and-as the last extremity is reached-by panting, when blood is heated above 98.6 degrees. The heart begins to pump more blood, blood vessels dilate to accommodate the increased flow, and the bundles of tiny capillaries threading through the upper layers of skin are put into operation. The body’s blood is circulated closer to the skin’s surface, and excess heat drains off into the cooler atmosphere. At the same time, water diffuses through the skin as perspiration. The skin handles about 90 percent of the body’s heat dissipating function.

Sweating, by itself, does nothing to cool the body, unless the water is removed by evaporation, and high relative humidity retards evaporation. The evaporation process itself works this way: the heat energy required to evaporate the sweat is extracted from the body, thereby cooling it. Under conditions of high temperature (above 90 degrees) and high relative humidity, the body is doing everything it can to maintain 98.6 degrees inside. The heart is pumping a torrent of blood through dilated circulatory vessels; the sweat glands are pouring liquid-including essential dissolved chemicals, like sodium and chloride onto the surface of the skin.

Too Much Heat

Heat disorders generally have to do with a reduction or collapse of the body’s ability to shed heat by circulatory changes and sweating, or a chemical (salt) imbalance caused by too much sweating. When heat gain exceeds the level the body can remove, or when the body cannot compensate for fluids and salt lost through perspiration, the temperature of the body’s inner core begins to rise and heat-related illness may develop.

Ranging in severity, heat disorders share one common feature: the individual has overexposed or over exercised for his age and physical condition in the existing thermal environment.

Sunburn, with its ultraviolet radiation burns, can significantly retard the skin’s ability to shed excess heat. Studies indicate that, other things being equal, the severity of heat disorders tend to increase with age-heat cramps in a 17-year-old may be heat exhaustion in someone 40 and heat stroke in a person over 60.

Acclimatization has to do with adjusting sweat-salt concentrations, among other things. The idea is to lose enough water to regulate body temperature, with the least possible chemical disturbance.

Preventing Heat-Related Illness

Elderly persons, small children, chronic invalids, those on certain medications or drugs (especially tranquilizers) and persons with weight and alcohol problems are particularly susceptible to heat reactions, especially during heat waves in areas where a moderate climate usually prevails.

Heat Wave Safety Tips

Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

Dress for summer. Lightweight light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.

Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.

Drink plenty of
water or other non-alcohol fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. Persons who (1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, (2) are on fluid restrictive diets or (3) have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids

. Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.

(If possible)Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, spending some time each day (during hot weather) in an air conditioned environment affords some protection.

Don’t get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation for our bodies that much more difficult

Know These Heat Disorder Symptoms

SUNBURN: Redness and pain. In severe cases swelling of skin, blisters, fever, headaches. First Aid: Ointments for mild cases if blisters appear and do not break. If breaking occurs, apply dry sterile dressing. Serious, extensive cases should be seen by physician.

HEAT CRAMPS: Painful spasms usually in muscles of legs and abdomen possible. Heavy sweating. First Aid: Firm pressure on cramping muscles, or gentle massage to relieve spasm. Give sips of water. If nausea occurs, discontinue use.

HEAT EXHAUSTION: Heavy sweating, weakness, skin cold, pale and clammy. Pulse rapid. Normal temperature possible. Fainting and vomiting. First Aid: Get victim out of sun. Lie down and loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths. Fan or move victim to air conditioned room. Sips of water. If nausea occurs, discontinue use. If vomiting continues, seek immediate medical attention.

HEAT STROKE (or sunstroke): High body temperature (106° F. or higher). Hot dry skin. Rapid and strong pulse. Possible unconsciousness. First Aid: HEAT STROKE IS A SEVERE MEDICAL EMERGENCY. SUMMON EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR GET THE VICTIM TO A HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY. DELAY CAN BE FATAL. Move the victim to a cooler environment Reduce body temperature with cold bath or sponging. Use extreme caution. Remove clothing, use fans and air conditioners. If temperature rises again, repeat process. Do not give fluids. Persons on salt restrictive diets should consult a physician before increasing their salt intake.

Information produced as a cooperative effort of NOAA’s National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the American Red Cross.

Today’s Blog Post is courtesy of Ken Oswald

Safety and Security Manager

ENMR·Plateau

koswald@plateautel.com

General Water Safety Tips

With the beginning of August now here and forecasted temperatures hitting record highs, what better way to cool off is to take a dip in some cool water. Many of us will take a trip to the lake, beach, rivers or swimming pool to help cool down. Here are just a few helpful summer water safety tips to make your water adventure more enjoyable.

General Water Safety Tips

• Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To enroll in a swim course, contact your local Red Cross Chapter or contact me.
  
  
• Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
  
• Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
  
• Children or inexperienced swimmers should take precautions, such as wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD) when around the water.
  
• Watch out for the dangerous “too’s” – too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
  
• Set water safety rules for the whole family based on swimming abilities (for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep).
  
• Be knowledgeable of the water environment you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located. The more informed you are, the more aware you will be of hazards and safe practices.
  
• Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
  
• Use a feet-first entry when entering the water.
  
• Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.
  
• Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving or boating. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body’s ability to stay warm.
  
• Know how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies.
  

Beach Safety

• Protect your skin: Sunlight contains two kinds of UV rays — UVA increases the risk of skin cancer, skin aging, and other skin diseases. UVB causes sunburn and can lead to skin cancer. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least SPF15.
  
• Drink plenty of water regularly and often even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool.
  
  
  • Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly but make the heat’s effects on your body worse. This is especially true with beer, which dehydrates the body.
    
    
• Watch for signs of heat stroke: Heat stroke is life-threatening. The person’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working.
  
  
  • The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
    
  • Signals of heat stroke include –
    
    
    • Hot, red, and usually dry skin, but in some cases such as during athletic activity while wearing a helmet, the skin may be moist
      
    • Changes in consciousness
      
    • Rapid, weak pulse, and
      
    • Rapid, shallow breathing.
      
      
  • Call 9-1-1 or your local EMS number.
    
  • Move the person to a cooler place.
    
  • Quickly cool the body by wrapping wet sheets around the body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, place them on each of the victim’s wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels.
    
  • Watch for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear.
    
  • Keep the person lying down.
    
• Wear eye protection
  
  
  • Sunglasses are like sunscreen for your eyes and protect against damage that can occur from UV rays.
    
  • Be sure to wear sunglasses with labels that indicate that they absorb at least 90 percent of UV sunlight.
    
    
• Wear foot protection. Many times, people’s feet can get burned from the sand or cut from glass in the sand. 

• Boating Safety
  

• Alcohol and boating don’t mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination — over 50 percent of drownings result from boating incidents involving alcohol. For the same reasons it is dangerous to operate an automobile while under the influence of alcohol, people should not operate a boat while drinking alcohol.
  
• Look for the label: Use Coast Guard-approved life jackets for yourself and your passengers when boating and fishing.  Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket, it is New Mexico and Texas state law.
  
  
• Develop a float plan. Anytime you go out in a boat, give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone. This is important because if the boat is delayed because of an emergency, becomes lost, or encounters other problems, you want help to be able to reach you.
  
• Watch the weather: Know local weather conditions and prepare for electrical storms. Watch local news programs. Stop boating as soon as you see or hear a storm.
  

Home Pools

• Never leave a child unobserved around water. Your eyes must be on the child at all times. Adult supervision is recommended.
  
• Install a phone by the pool or keep a cordless phone nearby so that you can call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
  
• Enclose the pool completely with a self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars. Openings in the fence should be no more than four inches wide. The house should not be included as a part of the barrier.
  
  
  • The gate should be constructed so that it is self-latching and self-closing.
    
    
• Never leave furniture near the fence that would enable a child to climb over the fence.
  
• Always keep basic lifesaving equipment by the pool and know how to use it. Pole, rope, and personal flotation devices (PFDs) are recommended.
  
• Keep toys away from the pool when it is not in use. Toys can attract young children into the pool.
  
• Pool covers should always be completely removed prior to pool use.
  
• If a child is missing, check the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom, and surface, as well as the surrounding pool area
  

Keeping Children Safe In, On, and Around the Water

• Maintain constant supervision. Watch children around any water environment (pool, stream, lake, tub, toilet, bucket of water), no matter what skills your child has acquired and no matter how shallow the water. For younger children, practice “Reach Supervision” by staying within an arm’s length reach.
  
• Don’t rely on substitutes. The use of flotation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental supervision. Such devices could suddenly shift position, lose air, or slip out from underneath, leaving the child in a dangerous situation.
  

Lakes and Rivers

• Select a supervised area. Even good swimmers can have an unexpected medical emergency in the water. Never swim alone.
  
• Select an area that is clean and well maintained. A clean bathhouse, clean restrooms, and a litter-free environment show the management’s concern for your health and safety.
  
• Select an area that has good water quality and safe natural conditions. Murky water, hidden underwater objects, unexpected drop-offs, and aquatic plant life are hazards. Water pollution can cause health problems for swimmers. Strong tides, big waves, and currents can turn an event that began as fun into a tragedy.
  
• Make sure the water is deep enough before entering headfirst. Too many swimmers are seriously injured every year by entering headfirst into water that is too shallow. A feet first entry is much safer than diving.
  
• Be sure rafts and docks are in good condition. A well-run open-water facility maintains its rafts and docks in good condition, with no loose boards or exposed nails. Never swim under a raft or dock. Always look before jumping off a dock or raft to be sure no one is in the way.
  
• Avoid drainage ditches and arroyos. Drainage ditches and arroyos for water run-off are not good places for swimming or playing in the water. After heavy rains, they can quickly change into raging rivers that can easily take a human life. Even the strongest swimmers are no match for the power of the water. Fast water and debris in the current make ditches and arroyos very dangerous.
  

Ocean Safety

• Stay within the designated swimming area, ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard.
  
• Never swim alone.
  
• Beware of RIP currents they can pull you out to sea very quickly.
  If you become caught in a one, swim parallel to the shore until the pull stops and then swim back to shore.
  
  
• Check the surf conditions before you enter the water. Check to see if a warning flag is up or check with a lifeguard for water conditions, beach conditions, or any potential hazards.
  
• Stay away from piers, pilings, and diving platforms when in the water.
  
• Keep a lookout for aquatic life. Water plants and animals may be dangerous. Avoid patches of plants. Leave animals alone.
  
• Make sure you always have enough energy to swim back to shore.
  
• Don’t try to swim against a current if caught in one. Swim gradually out of the current, by swimming across it.
  

Personal Watercraft (Jet Skis)

• Operate your Personal Watercraft (PWC) with courtesy and common sense. Follow the traffic pattern of the waterway. Obey no-wake and speed zones.
  
• Use extreme caution around swimmers and surfers. Run your PWC at a slow speed until the craft is away from shore, swimming areas, and docks. Avoid passing close to other boats and jumping wakes. This behavior is dangerous and often illegal.
  
• Coast Guard-approved life jackets should be worn by the operator of the PWC as well as any riders.
  
• Ride with a buddy. PWCs should always travel in groups of two or three. You never know when an emergency might occur.
  
• Alcohol and operating a PWC doesn’t mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination. For the same reasons it is dangerous to operate an automobile, people should not operate a boat or PWC while drinking alcohol.
  

Surfing, Sail boarding and Windsurfing

• Always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  
• Wear a wet suit in cold water to prevent hypothermia.
  
• Take windsurfing lessons from a qualified instructor.
  
• Never surf alone
  
  

Snorkeling, Skin and SCUBA Diving

• Practice in shallow water.
  
• Check the equipment carefully and know how it functions.
  
• Learn how to clear water from the snorkel.
  
• Learn how to put your mask back on when you tread water.
  
• Be careful not to swim or be carried by a current too far from shore or the boat.
  
• Receive instructions/take lessons from qualified divers before participating.
  
• Get a medical examination and take a swim test before learning SCUBA diving.
  
• Once certified, do not dive in rough or dangerous waters or in environments for which you are not trained. Ice, cave, and shipwreck diving require special training. One can easily get lost or trapped and run out of air.
  
• Never dive or snorkel by yourself.
  

Tubing, Canoeing, Kayaking and Rafting

• Always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  
• Do not overload the raft.
  
• Do not go rafting after a heavy rain.
  
• When rafting with a tour company, make sure the guides are qualified. Check with the local chamber of commerce for listings of accredited tour guides and companies.
  
• Know local weather conditions. Make sure the water and weather conditions are safe. Because water conducts electricity, it is wise to stop swimming, boating, or any activities on the water as soon as you see or hear a storm. Also, heavy rains can make certain areas dangerous.
  

Water parks

• Be sure the area is well supervised by lifeguards before you or others in your group enter the water.
  
• Read all posted signs. Follow the rules and directions given by lifeguards. Ask questions if you are not sure about a correct procedure.
  
• When you go from one attraction to another, note that the water depth may be different and that the attraction should be used in a different way.
  
• Before you start down a water slide, get in the correct position — face up and feet first.
  
• Some facilities provide life jackets at no charge. If you cannot swim, wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Check others in your group as well.
  

Water Skiing

• Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
  
• Be sure the boat and ski equipment are in good shape.
  
• Always turn the boat motor completely off when you approach a fallen skier.
  
• Watch the water ahead of you at all times.
  
• Have an extra person aboard to watch and assist the skier.
  
• Run parallel to shore and come in slowly when landing. Sit down if coming in too fast.
  
• Use proper hand signals to signal boat operator.
  
  

• Do not ski at night or in restricted areas.
  
• Know local weather conditions. Make sure the water and weather conditions are safe .Because water conducts electricity, it is wise to stop swimming, boating or any activities on the water as soon as you see or hear a storm. Also, heavy rains can make certain areas dangerous.

  Information provided by the American Red Cross
  

Today’s blog post is courtesy of Ken Oswald
Safety and Security Manager
ENMR·Plateau
koswald@plateautel.com

Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention

Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas—are highly curable. However, melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous. About 65%–90% of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light

Protection from sun exposure is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays also reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow.

The hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daylight savings time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time) are the most hazardous for UV exposure in the continental United States. UV rays are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America.

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can penetrate and change skin cells.

The three types of UV rays are ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC)—

• UVA is the most common kind of sunlight at the earth’s surface, and reaches beyond the top layer of human skin. Scientists believe that UVA rays can damage connective tissue and increase a person’s risk of skin cancer.
  
• Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, so they are less common at the earth’s surface than UVA rays. UVB rays don’t reach as far into the skin as UVA rays, but they can still be damaging.
  
• UVC rays are very dangerous, but they are absorbed by the ozone layer and do not reach the ground.
  

Too much exposure to UV rays can change skin texture, cause the skin to age prematurely, and can lead to skin cancer. UV rays also have been linked to eye conditions such as cataracts.

UV Index

The National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency developed the UV Index to forecast the risk of overexposure to UV rays. It lets you know how much caution you should take when working, playing, or exercising outdoors.

The UV Index predicts exposure levels on a 1–15 scale; higher levels indicate a higher risk of overexposure. Calculated on a next-day basis for dozens of cities across the United States, the UV Index takes into account clouds and other local conditions that affect the amount of UV rays reaching the ground.

Exposure Category	Index Number	Sun Protection Messages
LOW	<2	You can safely enjoy being outside. Wear sunglasses on bright days. If you burn easily, cover up and use sunscreen SPF 15+. In winter, reflections off snow can nearly double UV strength.
MODERATE	3-5	Take precautions if you will be outside, such as wearing a hat and sunglasses and using sunscreen SPF 15+. Reduce your exposure to the sun’s most intense UV radiation by seeking shade during midday hours.
HIGH	6-7	Protection against sun damage is needed. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, use sunscreen SPF 15+ and wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants when practical. Reduce your exposure to the sun’s most intense UV radiation by seeking shade during midday hours.
VERY HIGH	8-10	Protection against sun damage is needed. If you need to be outside during midday hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., take steps to reduce sun exposure. A shirt, hat and sunscreen are a must, and be sure you seek shade. Beachgoers should know that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and can double UV exposure.
EXTREME	11+	Protection against sun damage is needed. If you need to be outside during midday hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., take steps to reduce sun exposure. A shirt, hat and sunscreen are a must, and be sure you seek shade. Beachgoers should know that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and can double UV exposure.

 

CDC recommends easy options for sun protection¹—

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours.
  
• Wear clothing to protect exposed skin.
  
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
  
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
  
• Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
  

 

Shade

You can reduce your risk of skin damage and skin cancer by seeking shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter before you need relief from the sun. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you’re outside—even when you’re in the shade.

Clothing

Loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection from the sun’s UV rays. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one. Darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors.

If wearing this type of clothing isn’t practical, at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well.

Hats

For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection.

If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen with at least SPF 15, or by staying in the shade.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.

Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.

Sunscreen

The sun’s UV rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Put on sunscreen before you go outside, even on slightly cloudy or cool days. Don’t forget to put a thick layer on all parts of exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back.

How sunscreen works. Most sun protection products work by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. They contain chemicals that interact with the skin to protect it from UV rays. All products do not have the same ingredients; if your skin reacts badly to one product, try another one or call a doctor.

SPF. Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF) number that rates their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15.

Reapplication. Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after you swim or do things that make you sweat.

Expiration date. Check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, but its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.

Cosmetics. Some make-up and lip balms contain some of the same chemicals used in sunscreens. If they do not have at least SPF 15, don’t use them by themselves.

Skin Cancer Risk Factors

People with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop skin cancer. Risk factors vary for different types of skin cancer, but some general risk factors are having

• A lighter natural skin color.
  
• Family history of skin cancer
  
• A personal history of skin cancer.
  
• Exposure to the sun through work and play.
  
• A history of sunburns early in life.
  
• A history of indoor tanning.
  
• Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun.
  
• Blue or green eyes.
  
• Blond or red hair.
  
• Certain types and a large number of moles.
  

 

Tanning and Burning

When ultraviolet (UV) rays reach the skin’s inner layer, the skin makes more melanin. Melanin is the pigment that colors the skin. It moves toward the outer layers of the skin and becomes visible as a tan.

A tan does not indicate good health. A tan is a response to injury, because skin cells signal that they have been hurt by the sun’s UV rays by producing more pigment.

People burn or tan depending on their skin type, the time of year, and the amount of time they have spent in the sun. The six types of skin, based on how likely it is to tan or burn, are—

• I: Always burns, never tans, sensitive to sun exposure.
  
• II: Burns easily, tans minimally.
  
• III: Burns moderately, tans gradually to light brown.
  
• IV: Burns minimally, always tans well to moderately brown.
  
• V: Rarely burns, tans profusely to dark.
  
• VI: Never burns, deeply pigmented, least sensitive.
  

Although everyone’s skin can be damaged by too much sunlight, people with skin types I and II are at the highest risk.

Here is a chart from the CDC as to which states have the highest rates of Melanoma per year:

 

Skin Cancer Symptoms

Where skin cancer develops

 

Unlike moles, skin cancer can invade the normal tissue nearby. Also, skin cancer can spread throughout the body. Melanoma is more likely than other skin cancers to spread to other parts of the body. Squamous cell skin cancer sometimes spreads to other parts of the body, but basal cell skin cancer rarely does.

Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. But it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day — your palms, beneath your fingernails, the spaces between your toes or under your toenails, and your genital area.

 

When skin cancer cells do spread, they break away from the original growth and enter blood vessels or lymph vessels. The cancer cells may be found in nearby lymph nodes. The cancer cells can also spread to other tissues and attach there to form new tumors that may damage those tissues

Basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms

Basal cell carcinoma usually occurs in sun-exposed areas of your body, such as your face, ears or scalp. Basal cell carcinoma may appear as:

• A pearly or waxy bump
  
• A flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion
  
• 
  

  Squamous cell carcinoma signs and symptoms
  
  Most often, squamous cell carcinoma occurs on sun-exposed areas of your body, such as your face, lips, ears and hands. Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as:
  

• A firm, red nodule
  
• A flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface
  
• 
  

   

  Melanoma signs and symptoms
  
  Melanoma can develop anywhere on your body, in otherwise normal skin or in an existing mole that becomes cancerous. Melanoma most often appears on the trunk, head or neck of affected men. In women, this type of cancer most often develops on the lower legs. In both men and women, melanoma can occur on skin that hasn’t been exposed to the sun. Melanoma can affect people of any skin tone. In people with darker skin tones, melanoma tends to occur on the palms or soles, or under the fingernails or toenails.
  

  Melanoma signs include:
  

• A large brownish spot with darker speckles
  
• A mole that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds
  
• A small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, white, blue or blue-black
  
• Dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips or toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina or anus
  
• 
  

  Signs and symptoms of less common skin cancers
  
  Other, less common types of skin cancer include:
  

• Kaposi sarcoma. This rare form of skin cancer develops in the skin’s blood vessels and causes red or purple patches on the skin or mucous membranes. Kaposi sarcoma mainly occurs in people with weakened immune systems, such as people with AIDS, and in people taking medications that suppress their natural immunity, such as people who’ve undergone organ transplants. Kaposi sarcoma can also occur in older adults of Mediterranean heritage.
  
• Merkel cell carcinoma. Merkel cell carcinoma causes firm, shiny nodules that occur on or just beneath the skin and in hair follicles. Merkel cell carcinoma is usually found on sun-exposed areas on the head, neck, arms and legs.
  
• Sebaceous gland carcinoma. This uncommon and aggressive cancer originates in the oil glands in the skin. Sebaceous gland carcinomas — which usually appear as hard, painless nodules — can develop anywhere, but most occur on the eyelid, where they’re frequently mistaken for other eyelid problems.
  

  When to see a doctor
  
  Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any changes to your skin that worry you. Not all skin changes are caused by skin cancer. Your doctor will investigate your skin changes to determine a cause.
  

   

  Know Your ABCDEs: ‘A’ is for Asymmetry
  

  Asymmetry means one half of a mole does not match the other half. Normal moles are symmetrical. When checking your moles or freckles, draw an imaginary line through the middle and compare the two halves. If they do not look the same on both sides, have it checked by a dermatologist.
  

  
  

   

  Know Your ABCDEs: ‘B’ is for Border
  

  If the border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, or irregular, have it checked by a dermatologist. Melanoma lesions often have uneven borders.
  

  
  

   

  Know Your ABCDEs: ‘C’ is for Color
  

  A mole that does not have the same color throughout or that has shades of tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red is suspicious. Normal moles are usually a single shade of color. A mole of many shades or that has lightened or darkened should be checked by a doctor.
  

  
  

   

  Know Your ABCDEs: ‘D’ is for Diameter
  

  A mole is suspicious if the diameter is larger than the eraser of a pencil. Benign moles are usually less than 6 millimeters in diameter.
  

  
  

   

  Know Your ABCDEs: ‘E’ is for Evolving
  

  A mole that is evolving – shrinking, growing larger, changing color, begins to itch or bleed – should also be checked. If a portion of the mole appears elevated, or raised from the skin, have it looked at by a doctor. Melanoma lesions often grow in size or change in height rapidly.
  

  
  

   

  Treatment
  

  Treatment for skin cancer depends on the type and stage of the disease, the size and place of the tumor, and your general health and medical history. In most cases, the goal of treatment is to remove or destroy the cancer completely. Most skin cancers can be cured if found and treated early.

  Sometimes all of the skin cancer is removed during the biopsy. In such cases, no more treatment is needed.
  

  If you do need more treatment, your doctor can describe your treatment choices and what to expect. You and your doctor can work together to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.
  

  Knowing these tips, awareness and what to do to prevent skin cancer may help with your quality and wellness in life. For more skin cancer awareness tips, come to our UV and Skin Cancer Lunch and Learn Wednesday, July 20^th from 12:00 – 1:00 pm in the Learning Center. Please contact me if you are interested in attending.
  

   

  Information provided by the CDC, NWS and Mayo Clinic.
  

   

  Today’s post comes to us courtesy of Ken Oswald
  

  Safety and Security Manager for ENMR·Plateau
  

  koswald@plateautel.com
  

   
   

See the Light; Protect Your Eyes This Summer

July is UV Safety Month

The National Weather Service and EPA advise people to regularly check the UV Index, which they developed as a way to predict the next day’s UV radiation levels on a 1-11+ scale, helping people  determine appropriate sun-protective behaviors. EPA will issue a UV Alert when the level of solar UV radiation is predicted to be unusually high and the risk of overexposure is consequently greater.

Also at the EPA site (www.epa.gov), you can check the UV Index forecast map, which shows contour lines of predicted UV Index values during the solar noon hour. The map is created daily from National Weather Service forecast data.

Here are the recommended Sun Protective measures for each exposure category.

Exposure Category		Index Number	Sun Protection Messages
LOW		<2	You can safely enjoy being outside. Wear sunglasses on bright days. If you burn easily, cover up and use sunscreen SPF 15+. In winter, reflections off snow can nearly double UV strength.
MODERATE		3-5	Take precautions if you will be outside, such as wearing a hat and sunglasses and using sunscreen SPF 15+. Reduce your exposure to the sun’s most intense UV radiation by seeking shade during midday hours.
HIGH		6-7	Protection against sun damage is needed. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, use sunscreen SPF 15+ and wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants when practical. Reduce your exposure to the sun’s most intense UV radiation by seeking shade during midday hours.
VERY HIGH		8-10	Protection against sun damage is needed. If you need to be outside during midday hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., take steps to reduce sun exposure. A shirt, hat and sunscreen are a must, and be sure you seek shade. Beachgoers should know that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and can double UV exposure.
EXTREME		11+	Protection against sun damage is needed. If you need to be outside during midday hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., take steps to reduce sun exposure. A shirt, hat and sunscreen are a must, and be sure you seek shade. Beachgoers should know that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and can double UV exposure.
	Regardless of the UV Index, the following sun safety measures are encouraged: Do Not Burn. Generously Apply Sunscreen to all exposed skin using a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. Wear Protective Clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible. Seek Shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Use Extra Caution near Water, Snow and Sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn. Watch for the UV Index (See chart above). Get Vitamin D Safely through a diet that includes vitamin supplements. Early detection of melanoma can save your life. Carefully examine ALL of your skin once a month. A new or changing mole should be evaluated by a dermatologist. Have fun in the sun this summer, but remember to use all the UV protection possible.

Today’s post is courtesy of Ken Oswald
Safety and Security Manager
ENMR·Plateau
koswald@plateautel.com

                                                                                      

Stormwater Management (Part 1)

Stormwater Management

Stormwater flows through gutters, through gardens, through streets, through the sewers, into rivers and into oceans and lakes. Any chemical, oil or sediment that is present anywhere along the line ends up causing environmental issues. A quick look at any newspaper or news website will turn up any number of environmental issues as they relate to stormwater.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is the system that is used to regulate non-environmentally safe substances in the waterways of the U. S. The Environmental Protection

Agency which controls not only the water but also the air, relies primarily on the NPDES.

The three principle business categories that this applies to are industrial complexes, construction sites and municipalities but any business or personal property can and does fall under the jurisdiction of the EPA and the NPDES if and when pollutants are involved.

The Nature of the Problem

Various pollutants can have adverse effects on the environment. Sediment can cloud or darken water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants and life to survive when not enough light and sun penetrates. On the other end of the spectrum, nutrients can cause excessive growth of plant life, choking off other aquatic life and/or stealing the oxygen that they need to live.

Garbage can cause choking and suffocation hazards to water fowl, turtles and fish. Plastic bags and six-pack rings are notoriously harmful.

Other insecticides, pesticides, solvents, motor oil, transmission fluid and paint can sicken aquatic life as well as people who might ingest the polluted water.

In addition, polluted stormwater increases the cost of treatment in order to make the water potable.

(Tomorrow we will look at the Solutions to the problem)

Insect Borne Diseases

It may not feel like it, depending on where you like and the prevailing weather patterns, but spring is just around the corner and with it the yearly hatching of a host of insect that have lain dormant all winter. What this means is that the recurring threat of insect borne diseases, which we haven’t had to deal with as long as the temperatures were low enough, is about to break out again.

You only need to compare these two maps to see, for example, the spread of West Nile Disease:

 

The first map is the year 2000, the next one the year 2007.

Prepare and protect yourself through awareness. Ergodyne is offering a white paper to help you do just that.

Download the white paper “Insect-Borne Disease Overview: Lyme Disease / West Nile Virus” from Ergodyne’s website.

Figure out how good your sunscreen is

Not all sunscreens are created equal, in fact, some are downright to be avoided.

Want to know where your sunscreen rates? Check it out here.

With over 1,500.00 sunscreens listed and rated on a scale of 0-10 (with 0 being the best and anything in the 7-10 range as something to be avoided) chances are good that you’ll be able to find yours.

Additional tips available in a downloadable PDF guide available here, include the following:

1. Protect kids! Everyone is at risk from sun damage, but children are more sensitive to heat stroke and have higher risk for skin cancer later in life when they get too much sun. Keep children under 6 months out of direct sun.

2. Avoid midday sun when intensity peaks. Summer sun is more intense between 10 and 4, also at high altitudes and in the tropics.

3. Seek shade or bring your own. Cover up with a shirt, hat, and UV-protective sunglasses. Remember that invisible rays can reflect up toward you from the ground, so you may still need sunscreen if you wear a hat.

4. Slop on sunscreen and reapply often. Put it on before you go out in the sun. Sunscreen washes off in water and can break down in the sun – reapply often. Wear daily on skin not covered by clothing.

5. Using bug repellent? Apply it at least 15 minutes after sunscreen to cut down on the pesticide soaking through the skin.

6. Buy new sunscreen every year. Start with our top picks list at cosmeticsdatabase.com/sunscreens.

7. Wear SPF lip balm to protect against sun damage.

8. Use a daily moisturizer with SPF when you’re indoors near bright windows. UVA penetrates windows and damages unprotected skin.