Physical condition - A field course tests one's mental, emotional, and physical condition. The most common minor injuries are scratches, bruises, sunburn, poison ivy, and impalement by cactus. Hiking in the field all day imposes significant strain on muscles, joints, and bones. Sprained and twisted joints are not common but do occur. Serious problems can be largely avoided by being in good physical shape, staying alert to hazards, and drinking plenty of water. Camp elevation is 6200 feet. Study areas are as high as 9000 feet elevation with over 1000 feet of relief.
Allergens - Dust & pollen are abundant in the study areas and at the Field Camp facility. Dust sources include rock, dead plant and animal tissue, fungus, mold, synthetic & natural fabrics, tobacco smoke, and forest or grass fire smoke. Local plants that produce copious pollen are various species of pine, fir, and juniper trees as well as a variety of grasses and weeds.
Partners – You will be assigned a partner for each field exercise. Your partner is the best defense against a potentially dangerous situation in the field. This is the most important safety regulation at our camp, and this rule will be enforced at all times. Anyone caught in the field without a partner (you must be able to see them or know exactly where they are) will be subjected to penalties.
Food - The Camp enjoys a number of nocturnal visitors, usually in search of food. Bears are attracted to the scent of food, including fruit, candy, and gum. Rodents are also attracted to food and rattlesnakes are attracted to the rodents. Some of these rodents may carry pathogens, including rabies and the plague. Minimize or eliminate snack food and candy from the cabins and dispose of wrappers and leftovers in the appropriate trash receptacles outside the cabins. Do not leave food or candy scraps lying about the grounds or inside the dining hall or cabins. Keep the cabin door closed while sleeping and whenever no one is present in the cabin.
Water - Do not drink water from any stream or pond or any of the bathroom fixtures (sinks, showers, or toilets). Drink water only from faucets designated by the kitchen staff.
Dehydration is the most common illness of field camp and is the most easily avoided. If left unattended, dehydration progresses to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death. Drink at least one gallon of water per day, more on field days. Drink plenty of water (a liter or so) during and right after breakfast, at least 3 liters of water in the field (at least 4 on hot days), and plenty of water (about 2 liters) during and after dinner. Tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar contribute to dehydration. Immediate symptoms of serious dehydration include headache, dizziness, and nausea. If you or your field partner develop one or all of these symptoms while in the field, get to a cool shade and begin to drink and eat slowly (fruit and carbohydrates are good, candy is not), then rest for about 15 minutes. If the symptoms have not dissipated after resuming work, proceed slowly to camp or to a vehicle, making frequent rest stops, and plan on a more lengthy recovery. The best time to re-hydrate is in the evening.
Urination is a good gauge of adequate water consumption. Under the conditions of field work, a person should urinate at least twice a day (assuming no intake of caffeine). Dark yellow and aromatic urine is an indication of insufficient hydration. Long term symptoms include chronic headache, fatigue, and constipation.
Hypothermia – There are no known cases of hypothermia in the history of this field course, but it is a serious concern in the mountains any time of the year. Summer afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains and can change a situation from potential heat exhaustion to potential hypothermia within an hour. Wet cotton clothing is a major culprit, so pack (and use) rain gear along with a wool shirt and hat, and perhaps a dry T-shirt and shorts or pants. The first obvious symptom of hypothermia is uncontrolled shivering along with slowness in judgment and speech. If you witness a person at this stage, encourage them to remove as much wet clothing as decency dictates and put on dry clothing if available. Work them toward Camp or a field vehicle and have them eat food (carbohydrates and fruit) and water to warm up. Hugging may be required to transfer body heat to the victim.
Lightning – Summer thunderstorms also bring with them the very real threat of lightning strikes. Some 50 years ago, a couple of LSU Field Camp students were struck and killed near the Camp gate. In Summer 2001 one soldier at nearby Fort Carson was killed and another seriously injured by lightning strike during outdoor maneuvers. When a storm approaches, proceed to low elevation immediately. Be wary of flash flooding in ravines and boulders rolling downhill. Stay away from isolated tall trees and treeless areas. The best tactic is to make yourself as short as possible by squatting with only your rubber-soled boots in contact with the ground. Get away from other persons, but maintain visual contact. There will be no rainouts or snow days at camp.
Animals – Chances are you will encounter some kind of potentially harmful animal during your stay at Camp. The most likely to be encountered are bears, rattlesnakes, poisonous spiders, scorpions, and rodents. One student recently encountered a big cat while out for an evening jog along the Camp road.
Bears – the most common type here is the black bear (although the fur is sometimes actually brown). Black bears are typically shy, except when there’s food around, but an extremely dangerous situation arises if you approach a cub when its mother is nearby. The best policy is to simply walk/stay well away from any bear you see, keeping an eye on its movements. If charged by a bear, there are a few actions that have been recommended over the years including curling up into a ball (protecting your head), backing slowly away, running away, and raising your arms and acting threatening toward the bear. Which technique is most effective probably depends upon the mood of the bear and the situation. If the bear is not charging, leave it alone and go on. If a bear wanders into Camp, stay in the shelter of a cabin. Don’t approach, feed, or harass it.
Rodents and other mammals – Any mammal you encounter, including a stray dog, could be rabid or could have fleas that transmit the plague or other malady. The best policy is to leave any mammals alone or shoo them away, except for the Porters’ dog(s) and cat(s), of course. Don’t encourage other dogs to wander into or hang around Camp. Shoo them away if they try to follow you to Camp.
Rattlesnakes – While in the field, you’ll unwittingly pass a number of rattlesnakes. Ordinarily, they simply lie still or slither away. However, they will strike if provoked, startled, or stepped on. Their rattle sounds more like the buzz of a cicada (a.k.a. ‘locust’), except with a sustained pitch. If you hear this, try to immediately determine the snake’s location and move away from it. Once the snake is found, take a moment to enjoy the sight from a safe distance and then walk around and go on. Leave the snake alone - don’t try to handle, taunt, injure, or kill it. (They’re actually quite helpful in controlling the Camp’s rodent population.) Avoid stepping or placing your hands on a place you can’t see.
Spiders and scorpions - There have been few, if any, recent reports of poisonous spider bites (specifically Black Widow and Brown Recluse, or “Fiddle-Back”) or scorpion sting, but these animals are present. Check bedding each night before crawling in. Avoid groping blindly behind a dresser, under a bed, under a cabin, etc. Flip a rock with your foot or hammer before picking it up. Shake out and check clothing before dressing.
Tics – Tics can carry Lhyme’s disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever; the latter is fatal and the former is debilitating and can be fatal. In both cases, the early symptoms are similar to those of the flu (aching back and eyes, mild fever, etc.) and appear about 7 to 10 days after the bite. You and your partner should perform tic checks after each field day. Plus, check yourself carefully every day when showering. If you find one, remove the tic and make a note of the date. If the symptoms appear a week or so later, visit a physician and demand either a blood test or medical treatment.
Falling and other injury – The nature of Geology field work includes a significant risk of injury due to slipping, sliding, falling, being struck by lightning or piece of rock, dehydration, hypothermia, and attack by an animal. If you or your field partner should suffer an incapacitating injury, handle the situation with the following in mind. Before attempting to move the injured subject, determine if they should be moved. If in doubt, don’t. If the person can move on their own but cannot continue field work, start right away with them for Camp or a vehicle. If they cannot move or should not be moved, keep them alert and comfortable, and signal others with a whistle. Do not leave a person suffering an injury, dehydration, heat exhaustion, or hypothermia unattended. Work toward the goal of either getting the person to professional medical help or getting the help to them. In emergency circumstances, a field vehicle may be operated as needed. A twisted or sprained joint does not count as a life threatening injury requiring emergency use of a vehicle. Attempt to find one of the teaching staff to attend to the fallen comrade, but if life or limb is threatened head straight away for professional help.
Sunburn and blisters - We should all have some idea of the relative “fairness” of our skin. If you are prone to sunburn, apply sunscreen on all exposed skin before you go into the field, even if it’s cloudy. Wear a hat on sunny days. Always carry moleskin or blister pads in your field packs.
Field etiquette – We occasionally work on or adjacent to private land. Please be respectful of other private property. In general:
1. Always ask permission to access private property. Sometimes, you may not be sure if you are on private property; at such times walk slowly and conspicuously.
2. Leave all gates as you found them, do not climb fences that could break or become unstable; go through or under.
3. Dispose of human waste properly.
Insurance - The insurance policy for Field Camp students covers only injuries sustained during course-related work and travel. It does not cover illness nor does it cover injuries sustained during leisure time activities off the Camp property. If you are prone to one or another illness, make sure you have in place an insurance policy that covers treatment and medicine. NOTE: The LSU insurance policy works by reimbursement. The student initially arranges for payment for services rendered. An accident report is filed. Then, LSU reimburses the student or his/her insurance company for the amount spent on treatment charges. This means the student should either have an accident policy in place or have access to an adequate amount of funds to pay immediate treatment expenses. |
