Health & Safety

These PDF documents, primarily provided by the USDA Forest Service, describe how to use and maintain tools commonly used by trail overseers.

Trail Maintenance and Construction Tasks
 385 Downloads
 111 Byte
 04-14-2016

This chart is intended as a guide and is not comprehensive. Basic safety equipment for all trail work includes a first-aid kit, boots, work gloves, long pants, and appropriate dress for the weather. Common sense and awareness are the best tools for any task.

Poison Ivy & Elevated CO2
 406 Downloads
 440 Byte
 04-14-2016

The results of this Duke University study “indicate that Toxicodendron taxa will become more abundant and more ‘toxic’ in the future, potentially affecting global forest dynamics and human health.” In other words, global climate change appears to increase the potency of poison ivy.

Tick Tips
 392 Downloads
 85 Byte
 04-14-2016

This is an advisory issued by the National Center for Infectious Diseases to reduce potential exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Deer Tick Life Cycle
 399 Downloads
 37 Byte
 04-14-2016

A short description of the life cycle of deer ticks in the Northeastern United States.

Hospitals Near the SNP
 533 Downloads
 5 Byte
 04-14-2016

This PDF document provides directions and maps to the prominent hospitals adjacent to Shenandoah National Park.

Backcountry Sanitation Manual
 474 Downloads
 1 Byte
 04-14-2016

The ATC Backcountry Sanitation Manual addresses the management of human waste in the backcountry. Proper management of human waste protects hikers, the environment and trail maintainers.

SNP Rabies Alert
 241 Downloads
 251 Byte
 05-10-2019

The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District (RRHD) issues the following alert: a skunk which bit a human on Saturday, May 4, has been confirmed as positive for rabies. The skunk was removed near Shenandoah National Park in Madison County.

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