Dangers in the oil field
Emergency response to venomous
arthropods, snakes, and plants and
attacks by wild animals
Africanized bees
Range of
Africanized
bees
In West Texas, consider all honeybees to
be Africanized -- if a swarm is seen, avoid
at all costs!
Response to massive bee stings
1. Call 911 and give location
2. If alone, get in truck and turn AC up all the
way, cold air slows bees.
3. Carry epinephrine and inject
4. If with other people getting stung, do not try
to rescue but yell at them to run to cover (truck,
etc.) Do not approach bees within 200 yards.
5. Main threat -- bees go for the face, which will
cause airway to be blocked.
6. If person loses consciousness, do CPR
Other stinging creatures
1. Scorpions -- not life threatening, unless
individual is allergic
2. Wasps -- not life threatening, unless
individual is allergic
3. Bumblebees -- not life threatening, unless
individual is allergic
4. Horseflies, deerflies -- not life threatening
5. Ants -- not life threatening. Fire ants are only
found where soil is irrigated (in and near towns)
6. Centipedes -- not life threatening
Spiders
1. Black widow are found in dark areas, under objects, in pipes, and in
storage facilities. Any very sticky wiry webbing indicates the presence of a
possible black widow.
The black widow spider produces a protein venom that affects the victim’s
nervous system. Some people are slightly affected by the venom, but others
may have a severe response. The first symptom is acute pain at the site of
the bite though there may only be a minimal local reaction.
* The local pain may be followed by localized or generalized severe
muscle cramps, abdominal pain, weakness, and tremor. In severe cases,
nausea, vomiting, faintness, dizziness, chest pain, and respiratory
difficulties may follow.
* The severity of the reaction can depend on the age and physical
condition of the person bitten. Children and the elderly are more seriously
affected than young adults.
* In some cases, abdominal pain may mimic such conditions as
appendicitis or gallbladder problems. Chest pain may be mistaken for a
heart attack.
* Blood pressure and heart rate may be elevated.
* People rarely die from a black widow's bite.
Black Widows, continued;
The decision to seek emergency care is
usually easy and should be made early. If
the person who was bitten by a black
widow spider has more than minor pain
or has whole-body symptoms, seek care
at a hospital's Emergency Department. If
symptoms are severe, call 911 for
emergency medical transport so that
evaluation and treatment can start en
route to the hospital.
2. Brown recluse -- 90% are found in dark storage areas.
* Apply ice to decrease pain and swelling.
* Elevate area if possible above the level of your heart.
* Wash the area thoroughly with cool water and mild soap.
* Avoid any strenuous activity because this can spread the spider's
venom in your skin.
.
* Use acetaminophen for pain relief
Don't do these techniques:
* Do not place any heat to the area. This will accelerate tissue
destruction.
* Do not apply any steroid creams to the area such as hydrocortisone
cream.
* Do not attempt to remove the spider venom with suction devices or
cut out the affected tissue.
* Do not apply electricity to the area. Anecdotal reports of high
voltage electrotherapy from common stun guns have never been shown
to be effective in any scientific studies.
Medical Treatment
* After initial evaluation, your doctor may provide the following
treatment:
o Tetanus immunization o Pain medication o Antibiotics
o Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for itch relief
* There is no antivenom available in the United States to counteract the
poisonous venom of the brown recluse spider.
There are no other poisonous spiders
in West Texas. Despite many people fearing
tarantulas, they are not dangerous.
Two diseases with a rodent vector;
Bubonic plague -- Packrats have hundreds of fleas, and
sometimes the packrats suffer a die-off. Do not go near
packrat nests at that time. During big rains, the fleas will
leave the nest and be on high ground -- be careful then, as
well. If you have a fever, or a swelling in the lymph nodes
of the neck, immediately visit a doctor.
Hantavirus -- is not common in West Texas, but is found in
the urine of several species of mice. If cleaning an
abandoned structure, wear a respirator. If flu like
symptoms appear, be sure to tell the doctor about being in
the proper habitat for hantavirs.
Rattlesnakes
Western
Diamondback
Rattler
Massasuga Rattler
Prairie rattlesnake
Mottled Rock Rattlesnake
only found in very rocky areas
Most rattlesnake bites occur
1. Trying to kill the snake
2. Trying to catch the snake
3. Putting your foot or hand where you
can not see where you are placing it.
Rattlesnakes prefer temperatures of 70-85
degrees. When below 70 degrees, they
will sun on rocks and pavement to warm
themselves, or seek burrows. When it is
hot, they seek shade or burrows. No
rattlesnake will chase a human -- you are
way to big to eat!
Western Diamondback Bite
(Envenomation)
We do not have the following rattlesnakes in
West Texas;
1. Mojave Rattlesnake - no specimen has been
found east of the Davis Mountains
2. Sidewinder -- no specimen has been found
east of Arizona
In rivers around San Angelo it might be possible
to see a Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin).
In the canyons of the Pecos it is possible to see
a Trans Pecos Copperhead. In that region Blacktailed Rattlesnakes are also found.
Trans-Pecos
Copperhead
Water Moccasin
Black-tailed
Rattlesnake
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Rattlesnake bite treatment
* Wash the bite with soap and water.
* Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower
than the heart.
* Get medical help.
If a victim is unable to reach medical care within
30 minutes, a bandage, wrapped two to four
inches above the bite, may help slow venom. The
bandage should not cut off blood flow from a vein
or artery. A good rule of thumb is to make the
band loose enough that a finger can slip under it.
DO NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:
* No ice or any other type of cooling on the
bite. Research has shown this to be
potentially harmful.
* No tourniquets. This cuts blood flow
completely and may result in loss of the
affected limb.
* No electric shock. This method is under
study and has yet to be proven effective. It
could harm the victim.
* No incisions in the wound. Such
measures have not been proven useful and
may cause further injury.
Threats from mammals;
1. Rabid foxes, coyotes, skunks, feral hogs
Any animal that is not scared of a human should
be avoided.
One of the most effective methods to decrease the chances for
infection involves thorough washing of the wound with soap
and water. Specific medical attention for someone exposed to
rabies is called post exposure prophylaxis or PEP. In the United
States, post exposure prophylaxis consists of a regimen of one
dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a
28-day period. Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of
rabies vaccine should be given by your health care provider as
soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses or rabies
vaccine should be given on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the first
vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are
given in your arm.
2. Feral hogs -- Feral hogs have become
common in West Texas. Do not ever get
between a sow and her piglets, and do not try
to catch a piglet, even if it seems to be alone.
When they bite, severe wounds are possible.
Clean out the wound, bandage it if possible,
and get to a medical facility. Call 911 if blood
does not stop flowing copiously.
3. Mountain lions -- Very rarely will one seek
to attack a human. Stand your ground, stand
tall and make lots of noise. Do not run!
Plants that sting
Stinging cevallia
Poison ivy
only found in
shallow gravel soil
to the west and
south of Midland
only found along creeks
and rivers east of the
Llano Estacado
Yellowspined thistle -- will
cause welts and blisters on
some people
Because oil field personnel are “out in the boonies”
the Sibley Nature Center would love to hear your reports of
wildlife and wildflowers. Two pumpers often bring in
digital photos or specimens of unusual finds they see on
their rounds, and we would love to have more folks tell us
what they see! We also would like to receive
reports of unusual animal behavior.
Come see us at 1307 E. Wadley
Call us at 432 684 6827
Or email us at bwilliams@sibleynaturecenter.org
Please visit our website;
www.sibleynaturecenter.org
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everything they can!