In wildlife and fisheries sciences, undergraduate and graduate students, managers, staff and faculty, find themselves working in environments with inherent dangers. Often, we approach our jobs accepting a certain degree of risk. Understanding risk and steps to reduce harm for those around us and ourselves is part of being a responsible professional.

Possessing knowledge and implementing training are first steps to avoid potentially dangerous situations. Accidents happen fast and knowing what to do in an emergency can save the lives of your colleagues, and yourself.

In an effort to increase safety awareness, we offer the following web-sites as quick references to better understand occupational hazards and responses to emergency situations. You may know of other helpful safety web-sites that could add new information to the list of safety links. If so, please forward them to Dr. Jim Cathey (jccathey@tamu.edu).

James C. Cathey, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843

• Aquatic Safety
• Terrestrial Safety
• Laboratory Safety

50 First Aid Myths and Mistakes

Aquatic Safety

Protect Yourself on the Water: http://www.protectyourincome.com/disability-insurance-tips/protect_yourself_on_the_water.asp

Fisheries Safety Handbook The Handbook from the American Fisheries Society assists researchers, educators, managers, and administrators involved in the fields of fishery and aquatic science and resources management in creating a safe and productive work environment. This handbook covers safety issues within the fisheries profession including defensive driving, boating safety, electrofishing safety, CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator) and first aid training, fish handling safety (injuries from spines and fins), pesticide application certification training (rotenone and aquatic herbicides), underwater and diving safety, and laboratory safety (chemical safety, slippery floors).

Vessel Safety Check: http://safetyseal.net/what_is_vsc.asp

Navigation Rules Online: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rotr_online.htm

TPWD Boater Education: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/boater_education/

TPWD Boating – Reporting an accident: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/responsible/accident_reports/

TPWD Boating Laws: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/laws/index.phtml

Hypothermia: http://powerboat.about.com/library/weekly/aa072003a.htm

General First Aid Topics: http://powerboat.about.com/

Specific Information for Texas Boaters: http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/10_0.php

Rendering Assistance on the Water: http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/8_8.php

Running Aground: http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/8_8b.php

Treating Hypothermia: http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/8_5.php

Crew Overboard: http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/8_3.php

Float Plan Example: http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/5_4.php

Water Safety Resource Guide: http://www.thewaterpage.com/water-resource-guide.htm

U.S. BOATING LAWS, SAFETY COURSES AND LICENSING BY STATE:

http://www.manitouboats.com/blog/u-s-boating-laws-safety-courses-and-licensing-by-state/

Terrestrial Safety

Chainsaw use and safety:

• http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/ageng/safety/ae1025w.htm

All Terrain Vehicles safety tips: http://www.atvsafety.org/InfoSheets/ATV_Riding_Tips.pdf

Winching safety tips: http://www.warn.com/corporate/images/90/64660-A2_RS.pdf

Trailer towing safety tips: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt12.htm

TAMU Safety Manual (topics: fire, laboratory, chemical, power tools, biological, and more): http://finance.tamu.edu/ehsd/resources/safetymanual/00-TOC.htm

Ladders, lifting, and falls: http://nasdonline.org/document/1032/d000826/ladders-lifting-and-falls.html

Heat Stress: http://are.berkeley.edu/heat/references.html

How to use a fire extinguisher: http://www.hanford.gov/fire/safety/extingrs.htm#use

Firearm safety, boating safety, nature safe, outdoor survival skills: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/exptexas/safe/

Travel Safety and overseas warnings: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1180.htm

Wildlife Disease Precautions:

• http://icwdm.org/diseases/default.asp
• http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ohb/HESIS/rabies.htm#Preventative%20immunization
• http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.net/animaldiseases.php

Lyme Disease Prevention

• http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/index.htm
• http://curezone.com/dis/1.asp?C0=217

Avian Disease

• http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1951.htm#section~treatment
• http://www.co.boulder.co.us/health/hpe/cdc/diseases/Salmonellosis/treatment.htm
• http://www.doctorfungus.org/mycoses/human/crypto/Crypto_index.htm

Information on Snake Bites

• http://www.oklahomapoison.org/general/snake.asp
• http://www.surgery.uthscsa.edu/stpc/snakes.asp
• http://hsc.unm.edu/Pharmacy/poison/z%20Pages/Preventing%20Snake%20Bites.shtml
• http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic544.htm#section~treatment

Information on Insect/Spider Bites and Poisonous Plants

• http://www.dto.com/camping/safety/firstaid.jsp?articleid=401
• http://firstaid.about.com/od/bitesstings/ht/06_bugbites.htm
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-spider-bites/FA00048
• http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/poison/z%20Pages/Bite%20and%20sting%20prevention.shtml

Laboratory Safety

TAMU Safety Manual (topics: fire, laboratory, chemical, radiological, biological, power tools and more): http://finance.tamu.edu/ehsd/resources.asp

Safe storage of laboratory chemicals: http://safety.science.tamu.edu/chemstorage.html

Autoclave safety: http://www.des.umd.edu/biosafety/auto/autoclave_safety.html

Use and disposal of sharp objects: http://www.des.umd.edu/biosafety/rest/sharps.html