Summer Safety: Heat Stress, Poisonous Plants

Sun sensitivity isn’t the only concern for outdoor workers in the summer – or any time of year, for that matter. In both warm and cool weather, poisonous plants can do damage to your system if you’re not careful. Hyland’s, manufacturer of IvyComplete and IvyBlock Lotion note that poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are all concerns for outdoor workers – especially those involved in clearing brush, weeds, etc.

Poison Ivy: Poison Ivy can be found in every region of the United States except the Southwest, Alaska and Hawaii. It appears as a weed with three shiny, green leaves and a red stem. The plant typically grows in the form of a vine, often along riverbanks and in moist woods, but also in pastures, fencerows and roadsides.

Poison Oak: Found on the West Coast and throughout the South, poison oak is most abundant on relatively dry, sunny sites in woodlands, thickets and old fields. The plant grows in the form of a shrub and has three leaves, similar to poison ivy, but without the climbing growth habit. Leaflets are thicker, dull green, hairy on both surfaces and also have serrated edges on one side of each leaf.

Poison Sumac: This poisonous plant is found abundantly along the Mississippi River, but is less common in other regions. It grows as a woody shrub with each stem containing seven to 13 leaves arranged in pairs.

Toxicity: The poison ivy and poison oak resin called urushiol is found in stems and leaves, though all parts of the plant are poisonous. Urushiol irritates both the skin and mucous membranes of individuals that come in contact with the plants, and some people are quite sensitive to the effects of the toxin. Others may show now ill effects from coming in contact with the plant and urushiol has little or no effect on most animals. However, pets may carry the substance on their hair and transmit it to humans.

Symptoms: Individuals who are allergic to poisonous plant sap will experience a range of skin conditions, including a rash, blisters, redness and itching. The rash is spread when the plant oils come in contact with different areas of the skin, but it is not spread by fluid from the resulting blisters. Thus, it is not contagious unless the resin remains on the skin and is touched by another person.

The rash can vary in severity from person to person and can begin as early as an hour after contact or up to five days later. It is also possible for the resin to persist for long periods on contaminated clothing, pets, tools, etc., and sensitive individuals can easily develop the rash from delayed contact with contaminated items even weeks after initial contamination. The worst stage of the rash usually appears four to seven days after exposure and may last for one to three weeks.

Treatment: Follow these tips for treatment of rashes from poison ivy, oak or sumac:

• Wash skin thoroughly with soap and cool water as soon as possible following exposure. Because the resin enters the skin quickly, it must be washed off completely within 30 minutes to prevent a reaction. Scrub under the fingernails with a brush to prevent spreading the resin to other parts of the body by touching or scratching. Use cool water to wash skin, as warm water opens pores and may allow the urushiol to penetrate deeper into the skin, causing a more severe reaction.
• Products such as Products such as IvyCleanse can be used to help remove harmful oils and soothe the skin after coming into contact with the plants. Click here for more information.
• Antihistamines help relieve itching and can be mildly sedating
• Bathing in tepid water with one cup of Aveeno® oatmeal per tub may soothe itchy skin. Aluminum acetate (Domeboro® solution) soaks also can be helpful to dry the rash and reduce the itch.
• Some people have sever allergic reactions to these plants and can experience swelling in the throat, breathing problems, weakness, dizziness and bluish lips. If any of these reactions occur, seek emergency medical care.

Prevention & Control: Learning to identify poison ivy, oak and sumac using the indicators above is the first step in avoiding these poisonous plants. Additionally, individuals who may come in contact with the plants should cover their skin with long sleeves, long pants, shoes and shocks. Barriers like IvyBlock lotion can absorb the allergenic oils in poisonous plants from being absorbed by the skin. Washing clothes, shoes and tools that may have contacted poisonous plants can keep the resin from being spread latently.

May and June are the best times to apply control measures to poisonous plants, though this can be done at any time of year. Burning may be dangerous and is not recommended as a disposal or control measure as the toxic oil from the plants can be carried in smoke. Additionally, remember that vines left on trees or fences – even if they look dead – may still carry allergenic oils and should be handled with care.