The Philadelphia Inquirer has offered an expert-informed safety guide for those looking to get out in nature this summer and fall.
The article provides recommendations regarding plants, mosquitoes, ticks, snakes, and water hazards. Excerpts from the article:
Plants
Poison ivy leaves have a plain texture and grow in groups of three; it tends to grow along the edges of fences or roadsides. Stinging nettle, on the other hand, has stems covered in tiny hairs with zigzag-edged leaves, and can grow on stream banks and woodland.
The poisonous hemlock’s white roots, for instance, can be mistaken for parsnip or wild carrots. Unlike poison ivy, it won’t give you a rash. But eating even small amounts of this plant can cause respiratory failure, cardiovascular damage, affect your nervous and gastrointestinal systems, or result in death.
Mosquitoes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using a repellent containing one of the following active ingredients:
- DEET, Picaridin, IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
Ticks
To reduce your chances of being bitten by a tick, Croasdale recommends using a bug spray that contains DEET — the CDC has a tool that can help you find an antitick spray that fits your needs. Be sure to tuck your pants into your socks, and do a thorough tick check upon getting home.
Snakes
Your chances of getting bitten by a venomous or nonvenomous snake are slim. If it happens, Kindle warns, “It’s going to be painful, but keep calm and try to regulate your breathing.”
Staying centered during such a situation can seem unnatural, but it’s highly important.
It can help you discern if you were bitten by a venomous snake. Scratch-like bites make it more likely to have been a nonvenomous reptile, and puncture wounds that cause intense pain signal a venomous snake.
Water
Swimming in Philadelphia’s rivers and streams is illegal. Why? “There’s nobody to rescue you if you’re in trouble,” Croasdale said.
This year alone, two people drowned at Wissahickon Creek.
Since there are no lifeguards on duty, the chances of rescue rely on possible bystanders calling 911. Even then, emergency vehicles have a hard time getting through the wooded areas to access the creeks.
For the full article, you can click here.
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