(Safety Short Production, Inc.)
Lots of us enjoy working outside...especially on a pretty, spring day. But the outdoors isn't always as hospitable as it appears to be.
Behind those trees...beneath that brush...there could be some surprises...and a few unexpected hazards.
The outdoors CAN be a dangerous place. In 1986, according to the National Safety Council, 55 people died from poisoning by and toxic reaction to venomous plants and animals.
Thousands of others...campers, hikers, hunters...received severe injuries or disabling diseases from encounters with poisonous plant or animal life. If you work outdoors, you'd better be prepared for some jungle warfare. For starters, stay away from wild animals. If provoked, wild animals will bite, and their bites may cause serious infection. Also, many wild animals...bats, skunks, squirrels, foxes, raccoons, and rats...may transmit rabies through their saliva.
Anyone who traipses through rural or wilderness areas can expect to meet one of these unfriendly natives. In the United States, we have to deal with four types of poisonous snakes...the rattlesnake...the water moccasin...the copperhead...and the coral snake.
Every year, those fellas are responsible for over 6,000 reported bites. Most victims survive, but some do not. Your best protection against snakebites is prevention. Make sure you're familiar with the types of poisonous snakes that live in your area. Learn their habits, and stay away from their territory. If you plan to hike in an area infested with poisonous snakes, wear snake-proof boots...and know first aid procedures for snake bites.
Insects...from pesky "no-see-ums" to hungry mosquitoes...can make life miserable for the unsuspecting hiker. They can also cause serious harm. Stings from ants, bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can be life-threatening if the victim is allergic to the insect's venom.
Scorpions and spiders...like the black widow and the brown recluse spider...inject a venom that may cause severe reactions, especially in young children.
Other insects transmit serious diseases. Mosquitoes may carry malaria, yellow fever, or encephalitis. Certain types of ticks transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease.
Your best protection against insects is to anticipate them. When spending time outdoors, apply approved insect repellent to your clothes and skin. Avoid using hairsprays, perfumes or colognes. They may smell good to you, but insects like them too. Wear long pants...tucked into your socks...and a long-sleeved shirt. And wear light-colored clothing. That way, it'll be easier to spot any varmints that land on you. Be careful around wood piles, dark corners of latrines, or similar areas where spiders might lurk. Avoid disturbing a bee's nest...at least intentionally.
If you know you're allergic to bee stings, talk to your doctor about prescribing an antidote.
You're not likely to meet any man-eating plants in the woods...but you could stumble across some plants that are poisonous. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac can cause severe skin irritation...either by contact or exposure to smoke from the burning plant. Learn to identify the poisonous plants in your area. Avoid direct contact with any part of the plant...or clothing or objects that have been in contact with the plant. And stay away from burning brush that contains the plants. The smoke may contain active substances that will produce a toxic reaction.
The next time you plan to enjoy the outdoors, remember...to be forewarned is to be forearmed. By taking a few precautions, you can enjoy the best of nature...before nature gets the best of you.
This is Claude Akins reminding you that safety is your job too.
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