POISONOUS PLANTS

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are common terrors of the summer months. Warm weather means yard work and outdoor activities that often put you in the path of one or all of these poisonous plants.  Coming into contact with the sap of these plants causes an allergic reaction, ranging from mild to severe, in most people. The sap can be found on the plant (in the root, stems, leaves, and fruit), on an animal, in the ashes of burned plants, or on other objects that have come into contact with the plant, such as clothing, garden tools, and sports equipment. Furthermore, burning the plants can cause airborne sap-coated soot to enter into the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system.

The best way to avoid the rash is to know what the plants look like so that you can avoid them.

POISON IVY – “Leaves of 3, let them be.”

Poison ivy is found everywhere in the U.S. except Alaska and Hawaii. You can identify poison ivy by having 3 almond-shaped leaves ranging from light green to dark green, and turning bright red in the fall. It may also grow as a vine, which typically has reddish hairs.          

POISON OAK

Poison oak is most common in the western U.S., although it is also found in eastern states. It has leaves that look like oak leaves, usually three leaflets but sometimes up to seven per leaf group. It can grow as a vine or a shrub.

POISON SUMAC

Poison sumac is much less common than the other two. It is found in wooded, swampy areas, such as Florida and parts of other southeastern states. It is also found in wet, wooded areas in the northern U.S. It has 7-13 leaflets per leaf stem. The leaves have smooth edges and pointed tips. It can grow as a shrub or small tree.

OUTSMART THE POISON. Once you know which plants to avoid, you can practice the following prevention strategies to remain poison free:

·  Wash garden tools regularly

·  Wash exposed skin with soap and water after working outdoors

·  If you know you will be working around poisonous plants, wear long pants, long sleeves, boots, and gloves. Take precautions while removing the clothing after your work is complete and immediately wash any exposed clothing using warm water and detergent.

·  Hikers, emergency workers, and others who cannot always avoid these poisonous plants can apply Ivy Block, an FDA-approved product sold over-the-counter, for preventing rashes from these poisonous plants. This lotion contains bentoquatam, a substance that forms a clay-like coating on the skin where it is applied.

·  To learn how to eliminate these poisonous plants from your yard, visit poisonous plant control.

COMMON SYMPTOMS of poison ivy, oak, and sumac include:

·  Blisters

·  Burning skin

·  Itching

·  Redness of the skin

·  Swelling

These symptoms can affect the eyes and mouth in addition to the skin.

EARLY TREATMENT of these symptoms can be done at home by doing the following:

·  Washing the area immediately with soap and water. If this is done within one hour of touching the sap, it may prevent a reaction. It is also a good idea to wash the entire body immediately in the event that other areas were exposed without knowing.

·  Flush the eyes out with water.

·  Carefully wash any contaminated objects or clothing alone in hot soapy water. Do not let the items touch any other clothing or materials.

·  Take an oatmeal bath

·  Apply Calamine lotion to rash to dry up blisters and bring relief from itching

·  Visit a local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl or a steroid cream, to help relieve the itching.

·  For severe rashes, see your doctor. Serious symptoms include swelling of the face, mouth, neck, genitals, or eyelids; also widespread, large blisters that ooze large amounts of fluid.

Enjoy outdoor activities safely this summer by being aware of these poisonous plants. Avoid them where you can, apply treatment as early as possible, and teach children to identify the plants, too.