Requesting health info on EMF and snakebites

[William Tivol]

j5wd at unb.ca wrote:
: Hi folks:
:     I'm looking for medical and health advice about working for long periods 
: of time under power lines.  My job this summer will entail performing 
: vegetation surveys under power lines 8hours/day, 6days/week.  As far as my 
: physical health is concerned, do I have anything to fear and if so, how can I 
: protect myself?

Dear Stephen
	IMHO, there is nothing to worry about from the power lines; the EMF
drops off as a large power of distance, and the power lines should be a safe
distance above your head.  You might ask this of bionet.emf-bio for an expert
opinion.  Unfortunately it takes something like a mu-metal hat to protect you
from overhead magnetic fields.

:    Because I will be working in California, I may also have to deal with 
: rattlesnake bites.  I would like to know how long you can be put out of work 
: if bitten (assuming quick treatment with snake bite kit) and whether a trip to 
: the hospital is necessary following any bite (after use of snake bite kit).  
: Thanks in advance to all those who respond!

	Assuming 1) quick treatment and 2) you are not alergic to rattle-
snake venom, a minor bite (the fangs are removed before much venom has
been injected) might not prevent you from working (the psychological impact
probably would send you home for the rest of the day at least).  I think
that there is a continuum from that to a very serious bite which could
keep you out for weeks.  If you are allergic, anaphylactic shock could
keep you out permanently.  Remember, though, the snake is more afraid of
you than you are of it--if you hear a rattle, back away slowly, and if
you're more than 2 meters away, you can back away faster.
				Yours,
				Bill Tivol