An awareness presentation on summertime pests and plants in Arkansas.

1. Snakes

2. Photo of the Month

3. Objectives
 Discuss Snakes of Arkansas
 Insects, Associated Diseases & Prevention
 Poisonous Plants
 Snake Handling Exercise

4. Snakes of Arkansas
http://herpsofarkansas.com/Snake/HomePage

5. Non-Poisonous vs Poisonous

6. Pit Vipers – Poisonous Snakes

14. Eastern Hognose
Coachwhip
Garter Snake

15. Speckled King Snake

17. Snake Bites
 Prevention
 Do not handle any
snakes
 Stay away from tall
grass
 Avoid their habitats
 PPE
 First Aid
 Seek Medical attention ASAP!
 Color & shape of snake? for
treatment purposes
 Keep still & calm
 Inform your supervisor
 Lay or sit down
 Keep affected area below
heart
 Wash the bite with soap &
water

18. Snake Bites
 Do NOT do any of the following:
 Do not pick up the snake or try to trap it.
 Do not wait for symptoms to appear if bitten, seek
immediate medical attention.
 Do not apply a tourniquet.
 Do not slash the wound with a knife.
 Do not suck out the venom.
 Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water.
 Do not drink alcohol as a painkiller.
 Do not drink caffeinated beverages.

19. Is this a poisonous snake?
1. Yes
2. No
1 2
9%
91%

20. Is this snake poisonous?
1. Yes
2. No
1 2
65%
35%

21. Scarlet Kingsnake
(non-poisonous)

22. Ticks will jump & fly in order
to attach to their next meal?
1. True
2. False
1 2
44%
56%

23. Mode of Transportation
 False, they actually climb up vegetation and wait for an
animal / human to walk by to attach themselves to.

26. Common Tickborne Diseases
 Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
 Lyme Disease

27. Rash
Increased
Pain
Swelling Redness
Flu-Like
Symptoms
Red
Streaks

28.  Symptoms usually
begin 2-14 days post
bite
 Fever
 Nausea
 Severe Headache
 Muscle Pain
 Lack of Appetite
 Rash (late in disease progression)
 Joint Pain
Carried by the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick and the American Dog Tick

29. How to avoid tick related diseases
 Wear Protective Clothing
 Long sleeved & pants
 Light colored clothing
 Use a Deet or Permethrin based insect repellent
 Keep grass cut short
 Spray pesticides

31. Guineas/Chickens
Topical
Dust/Drops
Liquid Sprays

32. Insect Repellent - Permethrine
 Indicated for:
 clothing
 tents
 sleeping bags
 other outside gear.
 Contraindicated for:
 Skin exposure.
 Harmless to humans
after it dries.

33. Spiders
 Black Widow
 Brown Recluse
(Fiddle back)

34. Bee Stings & Anaphylactic
Reactions

35. Anaphylactic
Signs & Symptoms

36. Using an Epi Pen

37. Poisonous Plants
Plant Identification
 The old saying "Leaves of three, Let it be!" is a helpful reminder for
identifying poison ivy and oak, but not poison sumac which usually has
clusters of 7-13 leaves.
 Even poison ivy and poison oak may have more than three leaves and
their form may vary greatly depending upon the exact species
encountered, the local environment, and the season.
 Being able to identify local varieties of these poisonous plants
throughout the seasons and differentiating them from common
nonpoisonous look-a-likes are the major keys to avoiding exposure.

38. Poison Ivy
 Eastern poison ivy is typically a hairy, ropelike vine with three
shiny green (or red in the fall) leaves budding from one small
stem
 Western poison ivy is typically a low shrub with three leaves
that does not form a climbing vine
 May have yellow or green flowers and white to green-yellow
or amber berries

39. Poison Oak
 Typically a shrub with leaves of three, similar to poison ivy
 Pacific poison oak may be vine-like
 May have yellow or green flowers and clusters of green-
yellow or white berries

40. Poison Sumac
 Woody shrub that has stems that contain 7-13 leaves arranged in
pairs
 May have glossy, pale yellow, or cream-colored berries

41. Poisonous Plants
Exposure
 Workers may become exposed to urushiol through:
 Direct contact with the plant
 Indirect contact, such as touching tools, livestock, or clothing
that have urushiol on them
 Inhalation of particles containing urushiol from burning plants
Symptoms
 Signs or symptoms associated with dermal contact with
poisonous plants may include:
 Red rash within a few days of contact
 Possible bumps, patches, streaking, or weeping blisters (blister
fluids are not contagious)
 Swelling & Itching

42. Poisonous Plants
Recommendations for Protecting Workers
Employers should protect their workers from poisonous
plants by training them about:
Their risk of exposure to poisonous plants
How to identify poisonous plants
How to prevent exposure to poisonous plants
What they should do if they are exposed to poisonous
plants

43. Poisonous Plants
Prevention
Workers can prevent contact with poisonous plants by taking these steps:
 Wear long sleeves, long pants, boots, and gloves.
 Wash exposed clothing separately in hot water with detergent.
 Barrier skin creams, such as a lotion containing bentoquatum, may offer
some protection before contact.
 Barrier creams should be washed off and reapplied twice a day.
 After use, clean tools with rubbing alcohol (isopropanol or isopropyl
alcohol) or soap and lots of water. Urushiol can remain active on the
surface of objects for up to 5 years.
 Wear disposable gloves during this process.
 Do not burn plants that may be poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.
 Inhaling smoke from burning plants can cause severe allergic respiratory problems.

44. Poisonous Plants
First Aid
Workers who have come in contact with poisonous plants
should:
Immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol, specialized
poison plant washes, degreasing soap (such as
dishwashing soap) or detergent, and lots of water.
 Rinse frequently so that wash solutions do not dry on the skin and
further spread the urushiol.
Scrub under nails with a brush.
Apply wet compresses, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone
cream to the skin to reduce itching and blistering.
 Follow the directions on any creams and lotions. Do not apply to
broken skin, such as open blisters.
 Oatmeal baths may relieve itching.

45. First Aid cont…
An antihistamine such as diphenhydramine
(Benadryl) can be taken to help relieve itching.
Follow directions on the package.
Drowsiness may occur.
If children come in contact with work clothing
contaminated with urushiol, a pediatrician should
be contacted to determine appropriate dosage.
In severe cases or if the rash is on the face or
genitals, seek professional medical attention.
Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room if the
worker is suffering a severe allergic reaction, such
as swelling or difficulty breathing, or has had a
severe reaction in the past.