Got Nature? Blog

The end of the school year represents not only the beginning of summer but also the start of field season. Time spent out in the field can be fun, informative, and an opportunity to gather important data. Field data can also be difficult to gather as outdoor conditions are often unpredictable. Anyone expecting to do work out in the field must be prepared for anything. In addition to the likelihood of heat stress and the threat of diseases carried by insect assailants (i.e. ticks, mosquitoes), those in the field must prepare for events that come naturally with doing research outside of a controlled environment.

Packing an emergency bag before venturing into the field is one way to ensure that negative ramifications of any accidents are kept to a minimum or eliminated completely. Standard emergency supplies should accompany field researchers on every trip. The nature of the outing should also be considered since additional, more specialized, equipment may be needed in some areas. Typical emergency equipment needed for each foray into the wild includes:

• Charged cell phone with an extra battery and a charger (stored in plastic bag with some petty cash)
• Fully stocked first aid kit (large size with an array of bandages and wound wrapping materials) with specialized field supplies (fish hook removers, seasickness tablets, flare gun, mosquito net, etc.) and general forest supplies (sunscreen, poison ivy/oak/sumac cream, insect repellent)
• Vehicle emergency kit (with vehicle operator’s manual and emergency blankets)
• Non-perishable, easy to open food stuffs (i.e. peanut butter, beef jerky, granola bars)
• Water (minimum of 1 gal / person / day of the trip plus an additional 3 days) and water purification tablets or filter devices
• Plastic Ziploc bags for personal hygiene products (toilet paper, sanitizing wipes, feminine products), extra clothes including a brimmed hat, and electronic devices
• Local guidebook and ability to identify hazardous plant and native wildlife species in the traversed field region
• Flashlight (with extra batteries)
• Two-way radio (if necessary to work alone in an isolated or dangerous area and check in regularly) and handheld weather station
• Personal protective equipment (safety glasses/goggles, gloves, hard hat, sturdy boots, etc.)
• Identification (photocopy of driver’s license, medical prescriptions and coverage information, and emergency contact information) for everyone in the field
• Maps, compass, and GPS unit

Following this list is the first start to a safe and successful field season! Best of luck!

Resources:
Nature of Teaching-Health and Wellness, Purdue Extension
Benefits of Connecting with Nature, The Education Store
Orphaned Wildlife, Got Nature?, Purdue Extension-FNR

Shaneka Lawson, USDA Forest Service/HTIRC Research Plant Physiologist/Adjunct Assistant Professor
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Lenny Farlee, Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources