Health and Safety at the ABCRC

Working outdoors, in any ecosystem, poses hazards. Knowledge of hazards and preventative measures, along with a giant helping of common sense can make your work outside both safer and more comfortable. Here are some information resources on potential hazards to which you may be exposed and should take appropriate measures to avoid or prevent. :

• Boating Safety:
  • Online Boat Safety Course
  • US Coast Guard Boating Information
• Hypothermia: (attention to weather, appropriate clothing and staying dry are keys to avoiding hypothermia)
  • Information from MedlinePlus
  • Outdoor Action Guide to Hypothermia And Cold Weather Injuries
  • Hypothermia.org
• Heat Stoke (adequate water, appropriate clothing and attention to hot weather are keys to avoiding heat stroke):
  • Information from eMedicine
• Allergic Reactions (persons with known severe allergic reactions should carry appropriate medications with them at all times when in the field):
  • Information from WebMD
  • eMedicine Information
• Insect and animal borne diseases (proper clothing and other equipment, use of insect repellant, avoiding exposure to biting insects and using appropriate caution with other animals are keys to avoiding infection):
  • Lyme Disease: vector tick bites
    • Center for Disease Control Information
    • Information from Medline Plus
  • Rabies: vector mammal bites
    • Information from the Cat Fanciers Organization Inc.
    • Information from Medline Plus
    • Center for Disease Control Information
  • West Nile Disease: vector mosquito bites
    • Center for Disease Control Information
    • Information from Medline Plus
  • Hantavirus: vector rodents
    • Center for Disease Control Information
    • Brochure on Hantavirus
    • Guidelines on handling of mammals from the American Society of Mammalogists
• Accidents (the key to avoiding accidents is to use common sense, think ahead and not undertake potentially dangerous activities):
  • First Aid Resources from Medline
  • First Aid
  • Virtual Naval Hospital First Aid Course

This page provides links to information resources administered by other organizations. The ABCRC and the University of Virginia do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of either the list or of the linked information.