HEALTH AND WELLNESS
ACCLIMATING TO CHANGE As vectors continue to adapt to climate change , so must our workforce — especially those in the southern United States .
Think about warm , humid places such as Florida . As the climate continues to mimic a tropical environment , more vibrant vector populations and diseases that have been historically tropically based may now begin to appear with increasing frequency .
PROTECT YOURSELF WHILE OUTDOORS It ’ s impossible to reverse climate change overnight , but it is possible to better protect ourselves — especially while outdoors .
An infographic provided by ACRT outlines several ways to protect yourself from pesky pests , including mosquitos , bees and wasps , ticks , chiggers , spiders and other stinging insects ( see https :// acrt . com / articles / protect-pesky-pests /).
Keep the following best management practice recommendations in mind to reduce your exposure to insect bites .
Apply both repellents and insecticides , or approved alternatives regularly , and by following the instructions found on the label .
Be sure to apply a pesticide , such as Permethrin , to your outerwear — including footwear and work gear . Clothing that is pre-treated with Permethrin is also available for purchase .
If you ’ re having trouble determining what to apply , consider using the United States Environmental Protection Agency ’ s search tool ( https :// www . epa . gov / insect-repellents ) to help choose the repellent product that is right for you . Wear the appropriate type of clothing that provides an additional barrier to prevent ticks ( and other insects ) from reaching the skin .
Conduct frequent body checks throughout the day , followed by a fullbody check at the end of each shift . invasive species , tree biomechanics , pollinator health , wetland restoration , avian studies , and more . He is the research committee chair for the Utility Arborist Association ( UAA ), chair of the International Society of Arboriculture ( ISA ) Science and Research Committee , and actively works with city , state , and federal organizations in taking innovation and technology from development to implementation . He holds a Ph . D . in invertebrate ecology / entomology from the University of the West Indies . In 2021 , he was recognized as the recipient of the ISA L . C . Chadwick Award for Arboricultural Research as well as the Award of Achievement by the Ohio Chapter of the ISA .
Editor ’ s note : This article originally appeared on Landscape-Business . com , sister production to SportsField Management magazine .
Despite the intimidation of climate change and the dangers that may accompany it , many of these vectorborne diseases are preventable through research , protective measures and education . SFM
Anand Persad , Ph . D ., is director of the Research , Science , and Innovation ( RSI ) team at ACRT Services . He has an extensive background in arboriculture ,
sportsfieldmanagementonline . com August 2023 | SportsField Management
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