Summer is here, and that means vacations, swimming and boating. But for employees who work outdoors, summertime is not always a day at the beach. For those working outside, summer can mean sunburn and insect bites. Horticultural businesses need to think about these risks to employees who work outdoors:
SUNBURN. Sunburn occurs when the skin is overexposed to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Everyone is at risk for sunburn; however, the time it takes to sustain a sunburn depends on the age of the person, his/her skin type and color, geographical location, altitude, time of day and the time of year. Keep in mind that every time a person gets a blistering sunburn, the risk of developing a type of skin cancer doubles.
Sunburn Prevention:
Skin Cancer Warning Signs:
More than 700,000 new cases of skin cancer occur each year. The most common type of skin cancer is Basal Cell Carcinoma. Basa Cell is caused by chronic exposure to the sun. It is most frequently found on exposed body parts (scalp, forehead, face, nose, neck and back). Men who work outdoors are the most common victims. Important precautions include examining your skin from head to toe at least once every three months and paying special attention to birthmarks, moles and blemishes. Look for the warning signs of skin cancer if you notice a mark or spot on your skin.
WEST NILE VIRUS. The chance of you becoming ill with West Nile Virus from an infected mosquito bite is rare, even in areas where the virus has been reported. Less than 1 percent of people who get bitten and become infected will get severely ill. Mosquitoes are more likely to bite around dusk and dawn, although some also bite during the day.
Deterring Mosquitoes:
West Nile Virus Symptoms:
It has been estimated by the Center for Disease Control that approximately 20 percent of the people who have become infected will develop West Nile fever. Mild symptoms include fever, headache, body aches and occasionally a skin rash that develops around the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. These symptoms last a few days. Severe infection includes headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. The more severe symptoms may last several weeks or longer. Approximately 1 in 150 people infected with the West Nile Virus will develop a more severe form of the disease. The incubation period for the virus in humans is normally three to 14 days.
TICKS. Ticks are members of the arachnid family, which includes spiders and scorpions. About 200 species of ticks live in the United States and most are about the size of the head of a pin. A tick will attach itself to the skin and suck blood for survival. Some species can carry Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, two of the most common diseases transmitted by ticks in the United States. Habitats common for ticks include wooded areas with tick undergrowth of shrubs and small trees, beach grass, lawns, forests, and along the edge of woodlands. They usually climb up long grass blades or low brush, and then attach themselves to animals or people passing through. Ticks will crawl under clothing, hide in hair and eventually attach to the skin.
Protection From Ticks:
Symptoms:
A person who gets bitten by a tick usually won’t feel the bite. There may be redness on the skin where the bite occurred, and sometimes a rash is present at the area of the tick bite. A tick usually has to remain attached for 36-48 hours to infect a person with a disease. However, if caught early, disease may be cured. Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headaches, stiff neck or neck pain, muscle aches, joint pain, fatigue, chills, swollen lymph nodes and a red, circular skin rash. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever include headache, rash and nausea or vomiting. Seek medical attention if any of these symptoms occur after a tick bite.
To remove a tick, use tweezers to grasp the tick’s mouth close to the surface of the skin and with a steady motion, pull the tick straight out. If any parts of the tick are left behind, they should be removed using a sterile needle or pin. Once the tick is removed, place the tick in a jar to show a physician.
Source: Hortica