The hazard
Outdoor crews work where ticks, mosquitoes and stinging insects live: tall grass, brush, wood piles, eaves and equipment that has sat for a while. Ticks and mosquitoes can spread diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus, and a sting can set off a severe allergic reaction that needs emergency care right away.
The action
Look before you reach into equipment, boxes, eaves or holes in the ground, and watch for ant mounds. If a single bee or wasp flies near you, stay calm and still, because swatting can make it sting; if several attack, get away fast and get indoors or into a vehicle. If you are stung, scrape out any stinger instead of squeezing it, wash the spot and use a cold pack. Have someone stay with the person in case an allergic reaction starts.
ASK THE CREW
If someone has a severe reaction, who calls 911 and how do we tell them where we are?
From the talk: Insects, ticks and stings. Read it in full, free, with the questions and the sign-in sheet.