Emergency Procedures

Quick Reference

Field-specific emergency protocols for the situations landscaping crews actually face. Know these before you start work — not after something goes wrong.

Emergency Response Priority

Stay calm and act in this order. 1) Get yourself and your crew out of immediate danger. 2) Call 911 for life-threatening situations or serious injuries. 3) Notify your crew leader or field supervisor. 4) Secure the area and keep bystanders out of the hazard zone. 5) Provide first aid only if you are trained and it is safe. 6) Do not move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger. 7) Document the incident and preserve the scene.

Heat Stroke & Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion shows as heavy sweating, weakness, cold and clammy skin, nausea, dizziness, and a fast but weak pulse. Move the person to shade, loosen clothing, apply cool wet cloths, and have them sip water slowly. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency: body temperature 103°F+, hot, red, dry skin, rapid strong pulse, confusion, or loss of consciousness. Call 911 immediately. While waiting for EMS, move the person to shade and cool them rapidly with water and ice packs on the neck, armpits, and groin. Do not give fluids to someone with heat stroke or who is unconscious. Prevention starts before symptoms: hydrate before thirst, take scheduled shade breaks, and use the buddy system.

Equipment Injury Response

Shut off all equipment in the area before approaching the injured person. For severe lacerations, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth and elevate above heart level if possible. For amputations, call 911, control bleeding with direct pressure and tourniquet if trained, wrap the severed part in clean damp cloth and place it on ice. For eye injuries from debris, do not rub or remove embedded objects — cover the eye loosely and get immediate medical attention. For crush injuries from equipment rollover, call 911 and do not try to lift heavy equipment without proper assistance. Keep a trauma first aid kit on every vehicle and check contents weekly. File an incident report for every equipment injury, regardless of severity.

Chemical Exposure (Cleaning Agents, De-Icers, Fuels)

Skin contact: remove contaminated clothing, flush the area with clean water for 15 minutes minimum. Eye contact: flush with water for 15 minutes, hold eyelids open, do not rub. Inhalation: move to fresh air, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Ingestion: call Poison Control immediately; do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel. Always have the SDS for every chemical on the truck and provide it to EMS. If symptoms are severe — difficulty breathing, seizures, unconsciousness — call 911 immediately. Document the chemical name, exposure route, duration, and estimated amount for medical providers.

Snake & Insect Bite Response

Snake bite: keep the person calm and still, remove rings or constricting items near the bite, call 911 for suspected venomous bites. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, or try to suck out venom — these are harmful myths. Note the snake's appearance if safely possible. For bee or wasp stings, scrape the stinger out (do not squeeze), apply a cold compress, and watch for allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis signs: difficulty breathing, face or throat swelling, rapid pulse, hives — administer EpiPen if available and call 911. Remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers, grasp close to skin, pull straight out steadily, and save the tick for identification. Clean spider bites, apply ice, and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.

Severe Weather Emergencies

Lightning: if thunder follows lightning by less than 30 seconds, seek shelter immediately in a hard-topped vehicle or substantial building — not under trees or open structures. Wait 30 minutes after the last strike before resuming work. Tornado warning: move to the lowest interior room of a sturdy building, or lie flat in a ditch if no shelter is available. High winds above 40 mph: cease all operations, secure equipment, move vehicles away from trees. Flash flooding: never drive through standing water, move to higher ground, abandon equipment if necessary. Hail: get into vehicles immediately and protect your head and face if caught in the open.

Property Damage During Operations

Stop work immediately and assess the damage. If a gas line is struck, evacuate the area — do not operate any equipment or vehicles — and call 911. If a water line is hit, locate and close the nearest shutoff valve if safely accessible. Contact your supervisor immediately and do not attempt unauthorized repairs. Photograph all damage from multiple angles before any cleanup. Communicate honestly and professionally with the client. Complete a property damage incident report before you leave the site.

Checklists

Emergency Preparedness Checklist

  • First aid kit fully stocked and accessible on every vehicle
  • Emergency contact list posted in every truck cab
  • Safety Data Sheets (SDS) binder present for all chemicals carried
  • Fire extinguisher charged and mounted in each vehicle
  • EpiPen available for crew members with known allergies
  • Cell phone charged and emergency numbers saved
  • Nearest hospital and urgent care locations known for each job area
  • All crew members trained in basic first aid and CPR