Athens County EMA

06/02/2026

Please use this email address to report poison hemlock in public areas (parks, bike paths, etc.) [email protected]

If the location is not part of the county-owned portion of a bikeway, the planning office will help you connect with the appropriate jurisdiction.

06/02/2026

☀️☀️☀️We will have more sunny days this week. This is a great opportunity to improve our health.

✨Open your window curtains when it is not too hot outside. Let bright, natural daylight fill your home to naturally reset your circadian rhythm, boosting daytime energy and improving sleep quality.

🌞Step outside around midday (between 10 AM and 4 PM). 5 to 30 minutes of natural sunlight on your arms and legs twice a week will provide you with a good amount of vitamin D. Note: Prolonged exposure to the hot midday sun is not recommended.

🌳 Look at the sky! Look at the trees and grass! Sky-blue and plant-green colors lower stress and anxiety, normalize blood pressure and heart rate, relax the body, and increase mental productivity.

🎾Spend more time in nature with your loved ones: have a picnic, go for a walk, or simply sit in the fresh air in your armchairs.

Your mind and body will thank you for taking time to recharge.

📍Helpful links:

Places to hike - https://athensconservancy.org/explore/

CDC: Effects of Light on Circadian Rhythms - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/work-hour-training-for-nurses/longhours/mod2/19.html

06/01/2026

In 2025, Ohio 211 identified 809,120 needs from people across Ohio. Each number represents someone looking for food, housing, utility assistance, health care, transportation, or other local support.
Behind every need is a real story — and 211 is here to help 24/7.

Don’t wait! Call 211 or 1-888-OHIO-211

06/01/2026

The heat of summer will be here before you know it! Make sure you are ready to !

05/30/2026

Tomorrow is the day! We look forward to seeing everyone!

05/29/2026

🌿 We noticed important questions about poison hemlock on our last post, so we wanted to share some additional information.
First of all, there is no need for panic. We are surrounded by many potential “killers” which would not hurt us unless we mess up with them (electricity, running cars, bee hives, high cliffs…). But we have to know them face to face and behave properly. If sharing this information keeps even one curious child safe from accidental ingestion, it is well worth the effort.

📞 Information from a Poison Specialist (America's Poison Centers):
“I guess generally we would say that a person who has a small, accidental ingestion of poison hemlock is unlikely to have serious toxicity from it. The times where someone has a big problem from it are usually when they've misidentified it as an edible plant (like wild carrot). I don't really have any hard statistical data about how often that happens, though - we typically would just advise against trying to forage for edible wild plants unless you really know what you're doing.
People who come into contact with it accidentally usually don't have any serious toxicity (although we'd certainly recommend washing the hands thoroughly if it is touched).
And please let people know they can always call us directly at 1-800-222-1222 if they think they've been exposed”
🌐 https://www.poisonhelp.org/

🚜 If people who mow along the roads use the wrong equipment, do it without PPE, and there are poison hemlock plants they are exposed to potential danger. Here is a video about a man who survived a near-fatal encounter with poison hemlock by cutting it accidentally:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brIc__EQIts

🛠️ How to manage it.
Hand-Pulling: Best for small infestations (always wear thick gloves and long sleeves).
Mowing/Cutting with proper equipment and PPE before it flowers. Be especially careful if wild parsnips are within the poison hemlock. It is common for them to grow together. Wild parsnip sap causes severe chemical blistering when exposed to sunlight (phytophotodermatitis).
Do NOT burn poison hemlock! The toxic smoke can cause severe respiratory distress if inhaled.
Herbicides should be used very carefully to avoid soil / water contamination. For example: “...Some herbicide options are: Glyphosate containing at least a 41 percent concentration can be mixed to create a 2 percent spray solution. Thoroughly wet all surfaces of the plant but not to the point of runoff…” (glyphosate is non-selective).
🌿 Helpful information from Ohio State University Extension:
📄 https://u.osu.edu/lcagnews/2025/05/12/poison-hemlock/
📄 https://pickaway.osu.edu/news/poison-hemlock-and-wild-parsnip-control-them-now

05/29/2026

Report a pothole, damaged signs, roadway debris, litter, dented guardrail, or any other roadway defect on an ODOT-maintained road on our website below or call 614-466-7170!

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/about-us/resources/damage-claims

You can also file a claim if you sustained damage to your vehicle on a state-maintained roadway.

05/29/2026

🌱Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a non-native invasive species which grows in local ditches, roadsides, fencerows, floodplains, meadows and fields.
This is one of the most toxic plants in North America, and ALL parts of it contain a toxin deadly to humans and livestock. Poisoning can occur through ingestion, inhalation, or absorption via the eyes and broken skin. Poison hemlock rarely causes a severe skin rash, but the sap is highly dangerous if it enters the bloodstream through minor skin cuts, scratches, or abrasions.

⚠️ How Toxicity Progresses (Rapid Onset)

Early Signs (First 15 mins to 2 hours):
Nausea, vomiting, and dizziness
Restlessness/confusion or visible muscle twitching
Muscle weakness and muscle twitches, tremors
Rapid heart rate and sweating
Dilated pupils
Excess salivation or dry mouth
High blood pressure

🚨 Late/Severe Signs (Critical Danger):

Slow heartbeat
Low blood pressure
Kidney failure
Extreme muscle weakness or paralysis starting in the legs
Seizures or loss of consciousness
Suffocation: Total paralysis of the breathing muscles (diaphragm), which stops the lungs from working.

🏥 THE TREATMENT:
There is NO ANTIDOTE for poison hemlock. If you suspect someone has ingested this plant, swallowed sap, or inhaled debris, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. Do not induce vomiting. You may call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away if the person has no symptoms. Hospital treatment requires emergency supportive care, including mechanical ventilation (breathing machines) and IV fluids.

🛑 LANDOWNER SAFETY TIPS:
1. NEVER burn poison hemlock. The smoke carries the toxins and can paralyze your lungs if inhaled.
2. NEVER weed-whack or openly mow the plants. This sends toxic sap into the air and into your eyes/lungs. Only mow if using heavy commercial equipment with fully enclosed, shrouded decks. When mowing, personal protection equipment (PPE) must be used.
3. ALWAYS wear heavy gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection if removing it by hand-digging.

Note: Cutting poison hemlock after it starts blooming can actually cause its seeds to finish maturing and spread across your property.

Be safe, know what's growing in your yard, and share this to protect your neighbors!

ℹ️ Helpful links:

How to recognize the plant: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2614

Poison control: https://www.poison.org/articles/can-poison-hemlock-be-deadly-184

Medical information: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24122-poison-hemlock

For livestock owners: https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/logan-ut/poisonous-plant-research/docs/poison-hemlock-conium-maculatum/

05/27/2026