Safety and Fun in the River We are pleased you have decided to become a volunteer water monitor. However, there are several important things to remember when you are working outside. If you follow these "rules of the river", you will have a fun, enjoyable and accident-free experience!
Before monitoring:
1) Make sure that someone knows the date, time, and location that you will be monitoring so that if you are injured, someone will know that you are missing or late in returning. It is even better to monitor with a partner so that if you are injured, someone can go for help.
2) Find out the phone number and location of the nearest medical center to your monitoring site and the location of a pay phone should you need to call for help.
Rules to monitor by:
1) Never monitor your river when the water is at flood stage or is flowing much swifter than normal. It is better to delay your monitoring event than to risk drowning or broken bones.
2) During monitoring, keep your hands away from eye and mouth areas. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after monitoring. Never eat after monitoring without first washing your hands.
3) If the water appears to be severely polluted or is posted as unsafe for human contact, (strong smell of sewage or chemicals, unusual colors, lots of dead fish) you may decide not to monitor, or you should at least take the following precautions:
- Wear boots high enough to avoid water coming in contact with your skin.
- Wear rubber gloves such as dishwashing gloves or rubber gloves that go up to your shoulders (available at most automotive supply stores). Surgical gloves will not work. They can be easily punctured by snags or sharp objects, and they are not long enough to protect your arms.
- Wear a protective covering for your mouth area such as a painter's mask that you can purchase at most drugstores or paint stores. You can get sick if you breathe in vapors from sewage-contaminated water.
- Report any problems or suspicious activities to your state water regulatory agency.
4) If a large oil spill or other toxic spill occurs it is probably best not to monitor at all. Report any spills to the proper state agency (Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, etc.)
5) Snakes are of concern when you are monitoring in an aquatic environment, especially slow moving waters with overhanging vegetation. To avoid an encounter with a snake, observe the following rules:
- Check cypress knees and old stumps near your station for snakes. Snakes must get out of the water to dry their skin and will lay on flat surfaces exposed to sunlight. Snakes may also be found on flood debris hanging in streambank bushes and trees.
- If you have to approach your station through high grass, firmly thump the ground in front of you with your net as you walk to your station. Snakes will feel vibrations caused by thumping and move away. Snakes are deaf, so loud noises will not scare them away.
- If you come upon a snake at close range, simply move away from the snake. The snake will probably leave the area when it no longer perceives you as a threat. Remember, you are much bigger than the snake, and it is more afraid of you than you are of it. Allow the snake a chance to back off and it usually will.
Monitors should know that most snakes associated with aquatic habitats are non-poisonous. As a rule of thumb, thin-bodied snakes are not poisonous, whereas thick, heavy-bodied snakes are. Nevertheless, all snake bites should be handled in the same manner. If a snake bite occurs during monitoring, follow these simple steps:
- Remain calm. Take a few deep breaths and keep movement to a minimum. Have your partner carry your equipment and walk calmly to your vehicle.
- Remove all watches and jewelry if bitten on the hand or arm. Snake venom will cause the bitten area to swell. Removing watches and jewelry will ease the discomofort associated with the swelling. In addition, treating the wound will be much more difficult if watches and jewelry have to be removed in the hospital.
- Elevate the bitten area. Do not apply ice or a tourniquet to the wound. Do not cut the wound open or attempt to suck venom from the wound.
Monitors in southern states may also encounter alligators and large aquatic turtles. These animals are not dangerous if left alone. We suggest that monitors leave the area and monitor another time. Alligators under 18" in length are juveniles and may be near their mother. Leave the area immediately. Female alligators are very protective of their young and may be dangerous. Snapping turtles and soft shelled turtles are not agressive or territorial and will usually move out of an area if the water is disturbed by a large animal. Nevertheless, turtles should never be picked up and moved. Although turtles are not poisonous, treat a turtle bite with the same care as a snake bite. Remain calm and proceed to the nearest hospital immediately.
If you have questions about the stream survey instructions, contact:
Save Our Streams Program
Izaak Walton League of America
1401 Wilson Blvd., Level B
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 528-1818
Defenders of Soil, Air, Woods, Waters and Wildlife
