$afety $aves – by Justin Doble

With the weather getting warmer and the ground drying up, guys are finally getting back into the woods.  I know for many, spring break up could not come to an end soon enough.  Believe it or not, that also applies to us safety guys.  Running the gauntlet of first aid training, the Montana legislative session, and several ALP and other workshops can wear on us safety rangers after a few months.  With that being said, I would just like to thank everyone who attended classes the MLA had to offer this 2025 season.  Montana has some of the most educated logging contractors in the country.  We have raised the bar, and let’s keep it up.

With guys getting back to work and hitting the brush, I wanted to remind everyone about that pesky little menace we can’t seem to ignore this time of year, the wood tick.  Though small, this little bugger will climb up to the tip of a blade of grass or shrub, extending its front legs just waiting for a person or animal to come along.  Once it attaches itself to a host, it will then it will meticulously crawl, until it finds a good spot to bite, usually looking for warm, moist areas like the scalp, behind the ears, armpits, or even groin.  And nobody wants that!

The primary danger of a wood tick bite in our region is the potential of contracting Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a serious bacterial illness that can lead to fever, headache, rash, and muscle pain.  Early detection and removal of the tick is vital, and disease transmission typically requires the tick to be attached for several hours.

Prevention is your best defense against wood tick bites.  When working in the brush, or even when venturing out on weekends, try to wear long sleeves if possible.  Light-colored clothing can help you spot ticks more easily.  Apply an EPA-approved insect repellent containing DEET to your clothing and boots.  During breaks, give yourself a quick head-to-toe check, and a more thorough look-over at the end of the day.   Finding the little buggers before they attach themselves is key.  If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible.

With that being said, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is notifying the public of a recently identified tick new to Montana most commonly referred to as a “deer tick” or “blacklegged tick”.  State health officials have identified three blacklegged ticks in the past year for the first time. Black legged ticks are much smaller and darker than most ticks found in Montana.  Though they have only been found in Dawson and Sheridan counties so far, be on the lookout.  The finding of a new tick in Montana could increase the risk of exposure to a new tick-borne illness in the state.

Blacklegged ticks are very common in northeastern states and steadily have expended into other states.  Though experts don’t believe blacklegged ticks are prevalent throughout the state of Montana, stay vigilant.  Blacklegged ticks are known for carry several tickborne illnesses including Lyme disease.  So, give yourself and your clothes a good look-over at the end of the day, and when you get home.  Just writing about ticks is giving me the creeps.

           And let’s not forget the other menace plaguing guys on the ground every summer.  Bees, wasps, and hornets.  Before getting back to work, you should go through your first aid kits and make sure you are stocked up on Benadryl.  Regardless if you’re severely allergic or not, it is always a good idea to keep some Benadryl in your lunch box.  If you are severely allergic to bee venom, and carry an epinephrine auto injector or “EpiPen”, now is the time to look it over and make sure that it is still in good shape, the medication inside is clear, and it is kept in a cool stable environment ready for use.  Epi auto injectors come with a clear set of directions to follow, and it wouldn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with them.

Take note if someone carries an Epi on the crew and where they keep it.  Remember, if an Epi autoinjector is used, you need to get to a hospital as soon as possible.  Auto injectors usually come in a 2-pack with the thought that if the medication begins to wear off before getting to a hospital, you can administer another dose.  So, lets plan ahead and make sure everyone gets home safe at the end of the day.  Hope to see you all in the woods!  Remember $afety $aves