Bolnick Stickleback Field Work SOP
These notes are designed around a team who originates in the United States and works in and out of country in Canada. This SOP can guide you to see what you need for your own team outside of the United States and Canada.
Safety
Every field work team should have at least one individual who has taken a Wilderness First Aid—a few examples below:
Every field work team should carry:
A fully supplied first aid kit
An emergency blanket & warm clothes
Mosquito repellent
Plenty of water (1 gallon per person)
A cell phone
A printed list of emergency contact phone numbers and email addresses
Include the Primary Investigator’s information on this printed list
A list of any medical conditions and emergency contacts for participants that care providers should know of (e.g., drug allergies)
A printed list of hospitals and urgent care clinics near the research site
If formaldehyde is in use in the field, the team must carry a portable eyewash bottle with clean (DI) water for use to wash eyes or mucosal surfaces in the event of exposure.
-In areas with brown bears, anyone walking away from a house or car should carry bear spray and make plenty of noise.
-Jogging is discouraged in remote areas where mountain lions, moose, or bears are present.
-Field work should be conducted at least in pairs for safety.
-When going out to the field, leave behind an indication of where you are going and when you expect to return.
-All individuals doing field work must be capable of swimming. Most or all individuals should know how to handle a canoe and kayak efficiently and safely.
-Life jackets must be worn when boating or when wading in shoreline habitat where there is a risk of sinking into mud or falling in.
Field Work outside expectation:
“Participants should be prepared to work long days (typically 8 AM until 6-10 PM)...participants must be physically fit, and equipped with personal gear to stay warm and dry, potentially in weather with steady rain and wind.”
Participants should be prepared to work long days (typically 8 AM until 6-10 PM) regardless of weather (which can often be chilly and wet). The work can be physically demanding, including carrying large stacks of traps and canoes moderate distances to research sites, or bushwacking through thick brush to access sites. Because of the expense of travel and housing, we typically take very few if any recreation days during the field season. Therefore, participants must be physically fit, and equipped with personal gear to stay warm and dry, potentially in weather with steady rain and temperatures in the low 50’s and wind.
In the event of emergencies
First make sure it is safe to provide care
Check the patient’s ABC’s: Airway, Breathing, and Cardiac function
Send a bystander to get help / call 911.
Stabilize the neck if any neck injury is suspected
Apply pressure to and raise any wound to staunch bleeding
Treat for shock if necessary
For any injury or illness, notify the Principal Investigator and the your university OSHA office
If suitable, notify any emergency contacts for the victim
Medical Facilities
Good medical care is widely available. The Canadian healthcare system is run on a provincial basis and is funded by Canadian taxpayer money. Tourists and temporary visitors do not qualify for this healthcare plan and should have their own insurance to cover any medical expenses. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.
In case of an emergency, the nearest medical facility to the project site is in Campbell River, 36 kilometers south of the field site on Highway 19. Only the last three kilometers to the field site are on forestry road. Ambulance or helicopter services are available and can be contacted either by cellular phone (coverage is limited in the field) or from Robert’s Lake Resort. Participants should be assured that a basic first-aid kit will be available at all project sites.
Health information and insurance
Immunizations
There are no required immunizations for Canada. However, a current tetanus booster, childhood inoculation boosters (such as polio), and a hepatitis-A vaccination are recommended. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP or via the CDC’s internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.
Medical Insurance
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties. Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provisions for whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur.
In preparation for your travel, we strongly recommend that you check the type and extent of insurance coverage you have. If you do not have travel coverage, we recommend that you investigate various special travel insurance packages. For your convenience, we have provided contact info for several insurance providers. Inclusion in this list does not represent endorsement by UREP.
New York International Group
International Insurance Specialists
(212) 268-8520
(800) 804-5763
Insure My Trip.com
This is a site that compares travel insurance packages offered by eight different companies.
Health Precautions
For the most current information available regarding health precautions for travel to Canada please contact your physician or local immunization clinic. And, as with any health-related recommendation, it is best to check with your personal physician regarding the shots and/or medication, that are best for you.
Personal Medication
Bring all personal medication. If necessary, you can buy over the counter medications in the area. If you wear glasses, be sure to bring an extra pair.
PLEASE NOTIFY THE GROUP LEADER OF ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO WORK IN THE FIELD OR THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCIES.
Collecting SOP
Land use and set-up
View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wMOB9SDch4 for instructions on setting minnow traps.
Contact landowners or reserve managers 1 work day in advance of your visit to let them know you are coming.
Carry a copy of all permits
Bleach minnow traps for 15 minutes (including ropes), rinse well, and let dry before visiting a new lake.
Rinse and dry a cooler large enough to hold the fish you plan to collect
Check that you have fresh (and extra) batteries for operational air bubblers.
At the field site
At the field site, introduce yourself to the landowners if they expressed a wish to meet you before you start.
Set minnow traps in littoral habitat, spaced at least 5 meters apart. Be sure the traps are fully closed before placing them in the water. Each trap should have a numbered float or tag. Record the number of the trap, the GPS location, and the time and date of deployment.
Depending on goals, traps should be left for 2-3 hours (if collecting for stomach content analyses) or overnight, never more than 12 hours.
Trap removal and end of site clean-up
When removing traps, record the time of removal, checking off the trap number.
Record the number of fish captured per trap.
At the end of the day, check that ALL traps set in the water have been retrieved. No trap can be left behind.
Place all fish in a cooler with fresh cool water and an air stone, no more than 100 fish per container.
Release excess fish before transporting the cooler to the processing site (where MS-222 and dissecting equipment, cameras, and microscopes are set up).
Fish should not be held in a cooler for longer than 6 hours, and should get fresh water hourly, check to ensure air stones continue running.
Use a MS-222 euthanasia protocol for procedures.