Info_for_General_Safety_Briefing_for_All_Contractors_0003.pdf

Info for General Safety Briefing for All Contractors 7/16/25

Park Speed Limits

Most of the park’s posted speed limit is 45 miles per hour, however certain locations especially in the Chisos Basin have reduced speed limits. It is vital to both personal safety as well as other visitors and park wildlife that all posted speed limits are always obeyed.

Vehicle Maintenance

Steep Terrain and the importance of well-maintained vehicles. Due to steep grades in the park, and general remoteness, it is important to have vehicles in good working order. This prevents stranded individuals, and accidents such as loss of brakes and vehicle accidents, leading to personal injury, property damage, and damage to the park’s natural and cultural resources. Over the past few years, several large vehicles (Dump Trucks) have lost their brakes and resulted in vehicle and property damage.

Trash/Debris/Food Storage

Proper disposal of Trash/Debris and Food Storage is very important in Big Bend National Park. Big Bend National Park is one of the few National Parks with a sanitary landfill. This landfill however is nearing the end of its capacity. When possible, removal and final disposal of items outside of the Park in a regulated facility is recommended.

Compliance with food-storage and garbage disposal requirements must be achieved at all times. Bear proof trash receptacles must be used to avoid access by wildlife. Work sites shall be kept free of litter. Ice chests and other containers with food or trash must be secured inside of vehicles, buildings, or bear proof receptacles (e.g., not in the bed of pickup trucks). Garbage and other trash shall not be mixed with construction debris and shall not be placed in containers for construction debris. Containers for construction debris must be clearly marked, e.g., "Construction Debris Only, No Garbage or Household Trash."

Medical Info: 911 for emergencies

Ambulance Service Location Contact

Numbers Level of Service BIBE Medic 1 (ground) Panther Junction ESB 432-477-1187 BLS TFEMS (ground) Terlingua ESB 432-837-5541 ALS BLS AeroCare Ft. Stockton 877-730-0009 ALS Big Bend Regional Medical Center

Alpine, Texas 432-837-0209

University Medical Center

Lubbock, Texas 806-775-8636 Level 1 Trauma/Burn Center

Brooks Army Hospital San Antonio, Texas 210-916-4979 Level 1 Trauma/Burn Center

SPECIAL MEDICAL EMERGECNY PROCEDURES:

Call 432-477-1186 (Dispatch Emergency Line) until 10 pm and 911 anytime.

Cellular Communications in Big Bend National Park

Most of the park does not have cell phone service. Service can reliably be found at Panther Junction and Chisos Basin.

New Cell Tower in Chisos Basin is basically a Verizon Tower currently.

New Cell Tower in Panther Junction will have both Verizon and AT&T Service o Note currently T-Mobile does not work well in the park

WiFi is available at various locations throughout the park, typically at park Visitor Centers.

Gas/Service Stations

In the Park

• Panther Junction Service Station-located west of the Panther Junction Visitor Center, has gas, diesel, and some groceries. (Scheduled to open late summer 2025, but fuel is currently available)

• Rio Grande Village Service Station-located at the RGV store, has gas, diesel, and propane.

Outside the Park

• Study Butte-Big Bend Resorts and Adventures: 432-371-2483 (gas and diesel)

• Lajitas-Lajitas General Store: 432-424-5040 (gas)

• Terlingua-Terlingua Auto Service:432-371-2223 (auto repair and towing)

• FM 2627(north of the park)-Stillwell Store: 432-376-2244

Local Utility Companies:

Rio Grande Electric Coop – 830-563-2444 (Local office in Alpine, TX) Big Bend Telephone – 1-800-592-4781 (HQ in Alpine,TX)

The Chihuahuan Desert

The vast majority of the park's 1,250 square miles is Chihuahuan Desert. Even though it is the coolest and wettest of the four North American deserts, dehydration happens quickly and easily. Before attempting arduous work, you should acclimate, eat well, and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

To quote Edward Abbey, in this desert, "everything stings, stabs, stinks, or sticks". Take time to learn its most troublesome species. Although Big Bend has over 1200 species of plants, many do not stick or stab.

The signature plant is the Lechuguilla ("leh-choo-GHEE-ya"), a foot-high species of agave with the well-deserved moniker, "shin dagger". Many areas otherwise easy to hike through are thick with it. The needle-sharp leaf tips will penetrate your skin; it will bother you for months or years if no first aid is taken.

Lechuguilla carries fire well. Fuel breaks are easy to construct in Lechuguilla.

There are 70 species of cacti, with 14 species of prickly pear cactus, all with spines. One, the "blind" prickly pear, deserves special warning because of its benign appearance. In fact, its tiny clusters of fuzzy-looking spines, glochids are very irritating. They are challenging to remove, scraping with the edge of a credit card or peeling with duct tape may help.

Watch carefully for hidden spines as you walk through brush. It's common for thin-stemmed plants like pencil cholla ("CHOY-ya") cactus to grow within the canopy of non-spiny plants. In terms of fire, cacti are a logistical hindrance for suppression activities in three ways, the spines, the densities, and many non-fire personnel developing protective attitudes over these plan

Dangerous Desert Creatures or Animals That Bite or Sting.

The park is home to 31 snake species, most nocturnal. Only four species are venomous. Venomous bite incidents may be rare, the potential real, the consequences prolonged. Watch where you put your hands and feet. Use a flashlight when in the dark. All animals are protected in national parks.

Along with bees, wasps, ants; several species of scorpions inhabit Big Bend National Park. All are venomous, none are deadly. Scorpion stings may make you feel sick very similar to that of a wasp.

Javelina or collared peccary, which look like hairy pigs, are cooler crooks. They are not pigs as the park staff seems to repeat. Their eyesight is poor, but their sense of smell is keen. The family groups around the developed areas are somewhat habituated to people. Javelinas are unpredictable but are shy and easily shooed off. Dogs left outside have been attacked. Clacking of their teeth is the signal for more space.

They eat almost anything, so store food in a vehicle or a latching hard-sided container.

Black Bears, mountain lions and rattlesnakes are abundant throughout the park. Review safety information posted on trial heads to prepare for an encounter with these spec

Weather/Environment

As with the desert, it is easy to dehydrate, suffer heat exhaustion or heat stroke during the hot months.

Conversely, hypothermia is possible when you get wet in the cooler months of November through April.

The rainy season extends from early July through early October, and it often features locally heavy thunderstorms with damaging hail and brief but impressive flash floods. Relative Humidity varies from greatly during these months.

Lightning is common. Review lightening safety protocols when lightning is forecast.

International Border Area

Speaking of the international border, it is possible you will encounter many kinds of individuals; trinkets sellers, undocumented people, workers looking for escaped livestock, as well as others. Experienced smugglers generally stay unseen. However, you may find evidence of smugglers or undocumented people on or near the river. Activities of this type have occurred on all borders of the world throughout history.

This section of the Rio Grande's geographic barriers, inhospitable terrain, natural bottlenecks, large distances from civilization make passing through difficult. However, people do try to pass here, other sections of the border have more staffing surveillance. This section has also increased enforcement technology and staffing by multiple agencies to stop the flow of illegal activity. If you do encounter persons you suspect of illegal activity, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONFRONT THEM. Leave the area immediately. Report your observations to Park Dispatch (432) 477- 1187 immediately.