What are your field safety tips?
Ask a Biologist Monday 5/2/22
Answers from Biologists:
Your life is more important than the data collection. Safety is first, data is second.
Always carry a form of ID on your person.
Trust your gut. It might be cliché, but it’s not wrong.
Try to park in a place that’s hard to box in.
Bring bear spray
Wear bright field gear with very obvious agency patch. Especially in less population areas.
Get Wilderness First Aid/First Responder training.
Invest in satellite messaging device, such as Garmin inreach
Pay attention to the wind/sky. Don’t rely on the weather forecasts alone.
Always turn the truck facing outward from your field site in case of emergency.
Leave a map or a log of where you’ll be that day.
Always carry more water than you think you’re going to need.
Have a turn around time and stick to it.
Makin sure your assigned Garmin device subscription is active.
Maxx Trax.
Stick to the plan you’ve told people.
Leave immediately if you find explosives or something suspicious.
Wear your sunscreen. Keeping your skin safe is important.
Wear something bright in the woods, even if not required to.
Hydration. If you’re thirty, you’re already starting to dehydrate.
Check for cell service or use a radio/satellite phone.
When boating, have a float plan and share it with at least one other person.
Carry benadyrl and epinephrine.
Life jackets aren’t optional in the water, no matter how safe you feel.
If you are diabetic, asthmatic, or anything else that could affect you in the field, inform your coworkers.
Backup batteries for phone/GPS.
If you’re really out in the field, pack smoke flares.
Pack water tablets and ration bars for emergencies.
Make sure you tell someone when you’re going somewhere without cell service.
Carry phone charging banks in case your phone dies or have a radio.
Always have a map and a plan of extraction.
Foam dog coats are a lifesaver in high temperatures. They make human versions.
Carry a knife or multitool.
Bear spray works for more than just bears.
Tell someone the latest time you’ll be back.
2-way radios for short range field communications when teams split up at a site.
Make sure you have a paper map for directions in case your phone dies or doesn’t have service.
If something goes wrong, stay calm. Shock can set in fast and hinder your ability to get yourself out.
In remote areas, Garmin inreach devices use satellites to send text messages in emergencies.
Invest in an InReach and always carry it with you in case there’s no cell signal.
Carry a whistle. Simple but I scared off a cougar that I caught stalking a coworker.
Bring forceps, tweezers, and a mini ziploc, insect collection vial, or tape for embedded ticks.
Pack/drink more water than you think you need.
Ask if your job will pay for Wilderness First Aid training.
Look before reaching into any hidden areas. You might find a friend that doesn’t want to be a friend.
Always keep your keys in a safe place. I clip them inside my bag.
Have superglue on you. It’s perfect emergency stitches.
In addition to wearing something bright, flagging is helpful to not get lost.
Take notice more often. Of changes in air temperature, what’s around you, landmarks.
Know what harmful animals and plants are in your area besides your study species.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts.
Mark vehicle entry/exit points on more than one device when going off trail.
Benadryl in your pack in case your have an allergic reaction happen.
Keep someone not with you updated on the day’s plans.
Always make sure there is an emergency jug of water in the truck during the summer.
Carry a knife, whistle, and water.
Buy a good electrolyte powder or tablet.
Regularly brush up on truck maintenance skills.
Pack gear for multiple weather scenarios and always have extra clothes.
Don’t step anywhere you can’t see the ground (snake holes, etc. can hurt you).
Be familiar with a compass and map. Know how to get out of the woods without a GPS.
You’re not obligated to talk to people who make you feel unsafe.
Know exactly where you’re at. Don’t trespass on private property.
Take survival gear and know how to use it.
Carry a knife, whistle, water, and a jacket.
Wear eye protection. I learned this the hard way.
GPS the truck location and the place you left the trail.
Avoid cotton clothes.
Redundancy in communication devices. Always have a back up plan.
Talk to the animals so they know you’re there.
Always wear sunscreen.
Drink lots of water.
Pack an “oh shit” kit with essentials, like food, rope, fire starter, etc. in case you’re stranded.
Always carry an extra container of water.
Have a first aid kit with you. Expect the worst.
