Safety

A picture of poison ivy growing up a tree.
Poison Ivy...if you are unsure if it is or not. Remember the saying "leaves of three, let it be!"

NPS

Stay safe!

The park is committed to ensuring the safety of park visitors and employees. Please note the following cautions.

  • Please be alert to traffic while in the parking lot and while walking along park roads. While all park roads are closed to the public, maintenance and delivery vehicles are common.
  • Because of the historic nature of the site, pathways and grounds may be uneven. The walkways and steps may also be slippery when wet.
  • Poison ivy is common in the park, especially along the forest edge. If you're unsure of what poison ivy looks like, the ranger at the visitor center can show you how to identify the plant.
  • While not common, bees such as yellow jackets are sometimes found in the park. People with bee sting allergies should be prepared with the appropriate medications.
  • If you have an accident in the park, or injure yourself, please contact a ranger immediately. The park has well equipped first aid kits and can assist you. The local rescue squad and ambulance service will also respond quickly to any major medical emergencies.

 
Adult Deer Tick on a leaf
Deer Ticks are fairly common in the Northeast united States and are responsible for the spread of diseases like Lyme Disease.

NPS

  • Ticks are common throughout the area. When walking through the lawn or around the local trails, look out for ticks that may climb onto your shoes or clothing. If you are bitten by a tick, the best way to remove it is to use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. After watch for common symptoms of tick bites.
  • For more information, the New York State Department of Health has a tick safety page that covers everything from prevention to removal.
 

General Safety Notes:

- Maintain a safe distance between you and wildlife (including farm animals).
- Due to the park’s proximity to privately owned lands, some privately owned fences may be high voltage. Keep a safe distance from fences as a high voltage shock could result in injury.
- Our property backs up to an active farm. Please be respectful of their agricultural efforts and be mindful of the heavy
agricultural machinery.

Heat Related Illnesses:

Hiking in nature on a sunny day can be one of the greatest escapes, but in the summer heat you should take some extra precautions .

Sunburn

Prevention: Protect your skin. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and use high protection sunscreen to prevent damage from UV light.


Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more water than you take in which negatively affects your body’s ability to perform essential functions. Anyone may become dehydrated but is most serious in young children or elderly adults.

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms may vary by age but can include:

- Dry mouth and tongue
- Sunken eyes, cheeks
- Extreme thirst
- Fatigue and muscle soreness/cramps
- Dizziness
- No tears when crying (infant/young child)
- Less frequent urination
- Dark colored urine
Prevention:
- To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of fluids and continue to rehydrate throughout the day.
- If you plan a strenuous activity such as hiking, it is best to begin hydrating the day prior and to continually hydrate at regular intervals throughout the activity.
- As a tip, producing light yellow to clear urine is a good indication you are well-hydrated.
 
Chart explaining heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
How to differentiate between heat stroke and heat exhaustion and what to do.

CDC.gov

Last updated: June 11, 2023

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Martin Van Buren NHS
1013 Old Post Road
Kinderhook, NY 12106-3605

Phone:

518 764-1041

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