THE BIG ITCH: What you need to know before embarking on your next family camping trip
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Now that the summer weather is finally upon us, many are taking advantage of the warm weather by going on long weekend camping trips or exploring the woods. While it’s great to expose your kids to nature’s finest, it’s easy to stumble upon some common poisonous plants that can cause very unpleasant reactions. Poison Ivy, which is the most common and widespread poisonous plant, is characterized by its telltale three leaves and grows low to the ground or as a vine. To learn more about this unwelcome offender, consider the following myths and facts about poison ivy before taking the kids on their next hike:
Myth: A Poison Ivy rash is “contagious.”
Fact: The rash is a reaction to urushiol (an oily organic allergen found in certain plants) and cannot pass from person to person once the urushiol binds.
Myth: Once I get Poison Ivy, I can never get it again.
Fact: Although not everyone reacts to Poison Ivy at initial exposure, people generally become more sensitized with each contact and could have a longer and more severe reaction to later exposures.
Myth: Once allergic, always allergic.
Fact: A person’s sensitivity changes over time, even from season to season. People who were sensitive to poison ivy as children may not be allergic as adults.
Myth: Dead Poison Ivy plants are no longer toxic.
Fact: Urushiol remains active for up to five years. Avoid letting the kids handle dead plants that look like Poison Ivy without proper protection.
Here’s a tip: “In the event of contact, try taking an oatmeal bath for relief, or an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Benadryl Itch Relief Spray which can start to work in as little as 15 minutes,” says Shannon Koppenhoefer, a paramedic specializing in wilderness first-aid. “If the rash affects a large area of skin or is serious, be sure to see a doctor.”
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