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SAFETY SPECIALIST
MEETING
JUNE 27, 2008
LIGHTNING
Accidental Deaths Increasing at
Alarming Rate
• More than 20 percent over a
10-year period, reaching
113,000 deaths in 2005,
according to the latest data
available. (Nat. Safety
Council )
• One person killed by
accident every 5 min.
• At current rate, the all-time
high of 116,385 accidental
deaths (1969), could be
surpassed in next few years.
WHAT IS THE SECOND
HIGHEST CAUSE OF
ACCIDENTAL DEATH?
Poisonings, Overdoses Seeing
Greatest Gains
ROUNDING OUT THE TOP FIVE
ACCIDENTAL CAUSES OF DEATH
• Falls
• Choking
• Drowning
OHIO
Rank Accidental Cause Deaths
•
•
•
•
•
1 Motor-vehicle 1,345
2 Poisoning 957
3 Falls 717
4 Choking 236
5 Fires, flames, smoke 105
The trend is also toward more
accidental injuries/deaths in and
around the home environment.
Warmer Weather Means The
Return of Summer Pests
o
LOOK
r
FAMILIAR?
B
a
d
B
u
g
A
L
C
I
C
A
D
A• PERIODICAL CICADAS:
S Pose no direct threat to people
or pets however can be
extremely annoying.
a
d
a
S
F
SCORPION
Wal-Mart Scorpion
A scorpion found its way into a box of
watermelons at the Wal-Mart in Barboursville,
West Virginia, where it stung the finger of a
young girl.
Watermelon
Scorpion
PHOTO OF WAL-MART
SCORPION
Scorpions are not
native to this area
and don’t
normally hang out
in grocery stores.
TICKS
TICKS
• are second only to mosquitoes in terms
of public health importance.
• are a source of Lyme disease, a form of
inflammatory arthritis and Rocky
Mountain Spotted Fever. Both are
bacterial infections.
• cannot jump, fly, or drop onto passing
people or animals. They get on humans
and animals only by direct contact.
TICKS
T
i
c
k
T
y
p
e
s
DOG TICKS
DEER
TICKS
e
v
e
n
t
i
o
n
T
i
p
s
• Wear light-colored clothing
with a tight weave to spot
ticks easily.
• Wear enclosed shoes, long
pants and a long-sleeved
shirt. Tuck pant legs into
socks or boots and shirt into
pants.
• Check clothes and any
exposed skin frequently for
ticks while outdoors.
• Consider using insect
repellent.
v
e
n
t
i
o
n
T
i
p
s
2
Stay
on cleared,
well-traveled
trails.
•Stay
on cleared,
well-traveled
trails.
Avoid
Stay
cleared, well-traveled
trails. Avoid
Avoidon
contacting
vegetation.
contacting
vegetation.
contacting vegetation.
•Avoid
sitting
directly
on the
ground
or on
Avoid
sitting
directly
on the
ground
or
Avoid
sitting directly on the ground or on
stone
walls.
on
stone
walls.
stone
walls.
•Keep long hair tied back, especially when
Keep
longhair
hair
tied
back,
especially
Keep long
tied
back,
especially
when
gardening.
when
gardening.
•Dogardening.
a final,
full-body tick check at the end
of the
day
(also
check
children
and
pets),
Do
a
final,
full-body
tick
check
at
the
Do a final, full-body tick check atend
theof
andthe
remove
ticks
promptly.
day
(also
check
children
and
pets), and
end of the day (also
check
children
and
remove ticks promptly.
pets), and remove ticks promptly.
TICK REMOVAL
R
e
m
o
v
• Clean your skin with soap
and warm water.
• Don’t be alarmed if tick’s
mouthparts remain in skin.
Once mouthparts are
removed from the rest of
the tick, it can no longer
transmit Lyme disease.
• If you crush the tick, clean
your skin with soap and
warm water or alcohol.
• Monitor the area for any
developing rash.
A
f
t
e
r
Rocky Mountain
Spotted Fever
Lyme Disease
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Spiders
SPIDERS
Camel Spider
• neither a spider, strictly speaking
(entomologists call it a solifugid), nor is it
found only in the Middle East. Camel
spiders reside in arid locales all over the
world, including the southwestern United
States. They are NOT NATIVE TO OHIO.
• A typical specimen can grow to about the
size of a child's hand, but, though they are
known as predators, camel spiders are
neither venomous nor a threat to human
beings.
BLACK WIDOW
• The black widow spider (L. mactans) and the northern
black widow spider (L. variolus) occur in Ohio, although
both are relatively uncommon, especially in the northern
half of the state. Other species of widow spiders
occasionally arrive in shipments of household goods.
• The black widow spider has a potent neurotoxic venom
and is considered the most venomous spider in North
America. However, the female injects such a small dose of
venom that it rarely causes death. Reports indicate human
mortality at well less than 1% from black widow spider
bites.
d
o
w
H
a
b
i
t
a
• Adult female northern
black widow spiders
are shiny black or
brown-black with a
row of red spots on
the top of the
abdomen along the
midline. Two reddish
triangles resembling a
split hourglass are
present on the
underside of the
abdomen.
• It is found in stumps,
hollow logs, and piles
of debris, and only
rarely indoors.
• IF BITTEN BY A BLACK WIDOW:
• Remain calm, immediately seek medical attention.
• Apply an ice pack directly to the bite area to relieve swelling and
pain.
• Collect the spider (even a mangled specimen has diagnostic
value), rubbing alcohol helps to preserve the spider.
• A hospital stay may be recommended, particularly for those with a
heart condition or with health problems.
• A physician may administer a specific antivenin to counteract the
venom or calcium gluconate to relieve pain.
The BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER
• is considered to be uncommon
in Ohio.
• Is commonly referred to as
"fiddleback" spider or "violin"
spider because of the violinshaped marking on the top
surface of their fused head and
thorax.
• generally occupies dark,
undisturbed sites, and they can
occur indoors or outdoors in
places like barns, storage
sheds, garages, and closets.
• is not aggressive, and it
normally bites only when
crushed, handled or disturbed.
Brown recluse spider bites.
May not be aware of the bite for 2 to 8 hours.
Others feel a stinging sensation followed by intense
pain.
A small white blister usually initially rises at the bite site
surrounded by a swollen area.
area enlarges and becomes red, and the tissue is hard
to the touch.
Lesion that forms is a dry, blue-gray or blue-white,
irregular sinking patch w/ragged edges and surrounding
redness--termed the "red, white, and blue sign.”
Lesion usually is 1½ inches by 2¾ inches or smaller.
The majority of brown recluse bites
are "uneventful," doctors say, and
rarely progress even this far but in
rare cases…
Preventing Spider Bites
• Be sure to wear gloves and a long-sleeved
shirt when handling stored cardboard
boxes, firewood, lumber, and rocks.
• Be careful and look for spiders while in
wooded areas and especially in barns,
storage sheds, garages, etc.
• Shake out clothing and shoes before
getting dressed.
• If bitten and discoloration/swelling
appear seek medical attention.
SNAKES
QUEEN SNAKE, 15-24 in.
Aquatic queen snake prefers
slow moving or shallow rocky
creeks and rivers
Frequently seen and
captured by overturning
large flat stones, boards, or
other debris along streams.
When first captured, some
attempt to bite. However,
their teeth are so small they
can barely pierce the skin.
Others make no attempt to
bite but will struggle to
escape.
GARTER SNAKES
AND RIBBON
SNAKES
Garter and Ribbon snakes-close
relatives of the water snake-are are
usually 18 to 26 inches long.
They usually have yellowish stripes on
a dark background.
These snakes occur in a wide variety
of moist habitats-in wet woodlands,
meadows, bogs, and marshes, and
along drainage ditches and streams.
Ribbon snakes seldom venture far from
water. Garters feed primarily on frogs,
toads, salamanders, earthworms,
minnows, and mice. Ribbons are the
same except no earthworms/mice.
Garter snakes, a.k.a. garden snakes,
are probably the most widely known of
all Ohio snakes.
Eastern Hog
Nose Snake
Length 10-30 in. Completely harmless but
frightening.
When alarmed, it coils, flattens its head and
neck to form a cobra-like hood, inflates its
body, hisses fiercely, and strikes violently.
Strikes-usually with the mouth closed-falls
short of the target. If that doesn’t work it
resorts to "playing possum." After danger
passes, it will raise its head, look around,
turn upright, and go on its way.
Coloration is extremely variable, with color
phases ranging from yellow and brown to
black and gray. The most reliable field mark
is the turned-up, hoglike snout, which is used
for digging out the toads that are its primary
food. The eastern hognose ranges over all of
Ohio except the northeastern corner. Dry,
sandy areas are preferred. In southern Ohio
it occurs in most of the hill counties.
EASTERN
SMOOTH
EARTH
SNAKE
Length 7-10 in., small, plain gray
or brownish snake with a plain
white or yellowish belly. Many
marked with a no. of small black
dots on back. The distinctly small
head and lack of distinctive body
markings are good identifiers. In
Ohio it occurs only in the
southern quarter of the state,
especially in the forested area of
Shawnee and Pike state forests.
Like the worm snake, this reptile
is very secretive and spends
most of its time hiding beneath
flat stones and similar objects.
BLACK RAT
SNAKE
Ohio's largest snake can be more than
eight feet long.
Occurs throughout Ohio. Often found
high in trees, taking shelter in holes
and other cavities.
When encountered, most freeze in
position and remain motionless. When
picked up, they will struggle/strike, coil
tightly about the arm and discharge a
foul-smelling substance.
Often hibernate in rock crevices in the
company of other snakes, such as
copperheads and rattlers.
They also play an essential role in
controlling destructive rodents.
NORTHERN
COPPERHEAD
Length 24-36 in.
Copperheads have the dubious distinction
of having bitten more people in the United
States than any other poisonous snake, yet
fewer snakebite deaths are attributed to
the copperhead. Although the bite is rarely
fatal, it is extremely painful.
They show a marked preference for the
rocky, wooded hillsides of southeastern
Ohio. They tend to stay away from well
settled areas.
When encountered, copperheads are
usually content to lie motionless, or retreat
if given the chance. One of the best ways
to see copperheads is to go for a drive at
night, especially after a warm rain has
broken a long hot, dry spell. Copperheads
enjoy lying on wet, steaming roads.
TIMBER
RATTLESNAKE
The most dangerous snakes in northeastern
America. They may attain a length in excess of
six feet, but average three to four feet long.
Fortunately, when encountered most timber
rattlers are mild in disposition unless aroused,
and make little attempt to rattle or strike. Most
remain coiled or quickly crawl away if given the
opportunity.
Numbers have been drastically reduced by
development. Colonies persist in widely
scattered areas in southern Ohio. They are most
numerous in the more remote areas of Zaleski,
Pike, Shawnee, and Tar Hollow state forests.
They prefer dry, wooded hill country where they
prey on a variety of small warmblooded animals.
They have two basic color phases. A yellow
phase has a series of dark brown or black
chevron-shaped crossbands on a ground color
of brownish yellow. A black phase has the
crossbands on a ground color of blackish
brown.
BLACK
KINGSNAKE
Length 36-45 in.
This handsomely marked constrictor is
limited in Ohio to Adams, Scioto,
Jackson, and Lawrence counties, and
even in this area it is relatively
uncommon, It shows a marked
preference for river bottomlands. Except
in early spring and fall, when they bask in
the open, these snakes are very
secretive, spending the day beneath logs,
rocks, and the like, and emerging to hunt
by night.
Their diet includes small mammals,
lizards, birds, and small snakes including
venomous species. Kingsnakes are
immune to normal quantities of venom
from all of our native poisonous snakes.
Although often pugnacious when first
encountered, with handling they soon
become extremely gentle and long-lived
captives.