Poison_Ivy_Poison_Oak_Sumac (Download)
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac 1 Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac Most common allergy in the country claiming half the population Sensitivity to urushiol can develop at any time Solutions or cures are those that annihilate urushiol Covered by workers compensation in some states (CA, for example) People with serious deficiency in cellular (T-cell) immunity such as AIDS patients may not have problems with dermatitis. http://blog.jekyllclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/poison-ivy.jpg http://www.poisonoakrash.net/images/poison_oak.jpg http://www.pisgahfamilyhealth.com/Newsletters/PFHnewsMay2006_files/PoisonSumac.jpg 2 Myth vs. Fact MYTH Poison Ivy rash is contagious. Contagion spreads from coughs at close contact. Leaves of three, let them be. Dead plants are not poisonous Breaking the blisters releases urushiol oil that can spread FACT Rubbing the rashes will not spread poison ivy to other parts of the body Direct contact is needed to release urushiol oil. Anything that can cause the oil to become airborne. Poison sumac has 7 to 13 leaves on a branch, although poison ivy and oak have 3 leaves per cluster. Urushiol oil stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to 5 years. Breaking blisters increases the chance of infection and scarring. 3 The Main Ingredient Urushiol Oil The plants produce a resin called urushiol It is an oil that seeps from the leaves of the plant and does not evaporate; leaving the plant active year round Urushiol is a yellow liquid and is nearly insoluble in water. After about 15 minutes of exposure, the Urushiol is chemically bonded to the skin and can no longer be washed off Around 15% to 20% of people are immune to Urushiol and have no allergic response to it The reaction to Urushiol is unique in that: Most times the allergy does not emerge until an exposure occurs, but some people develop a rash after their very first exposure Over time with repeated or more concentrated exposure to Urushiol, some people can become immune while others can lose their immunity 4 Poison Ivy These plants can be anywhere — from the woods to backyards. The green leaves of poison ivy blend right in with other plants and brush, so it is possible to sit down in a patch of poison ivy and not even notice, until later. 5 A red, swollen, itchy rash with blisters usually develops 12 to 72 hours after exposure. It may appear in thick patches or where the plant rubbed against the skin. Blisters are clear or have a yellowish liquid. Rash turns crusty and scaly. The skin may break out all at once or over a period of days. The first 5 days of a poison ivy rash are usually the most uncomfortable. The rash lasts up to 3 weeks. http://chestofbooks.com/flora-plants/flowers/Harper-Wild-Flowers-Guide/images/Poison-Ivy-Poison-Oak-Mercury-Vine.jpg 6 Poison Ivy Poison oak, with its oak-like leaves, is a shrub. Poison Oak There are two types of poison oak Western Poison Oak Found only on the Pacific Coast of North America, ranging from southern Canada to Baja California Found in damp, shady areas near running water and out of direct sunlight Atlantic poison oak Grows mostly in sandy soils in eastern parts of the United States Found growing in forest, thickets, and dry, sandy fields https://www.thedacare.org/crs/wha/poison.gif 7 Never burn it !! 8 Urushiol poisoning can spread in the smoke of burning plants Poison Sumac Identified by its row of paired leaflets with an additional leaflet at the end. Often the leaves have spots like blotches of black enamel paint. These spots are actually urushiol, which when exposed to air turns brownish black. Poison sumac is a tall shrub or small tree. http://www.drhull.com/EncyMaster/EncyImages/poison_sumac.gif 9 Leaflets are smooth No hair on leaves or stems 7-13 leaves Leaves arranged in pairs with a single leaf on the end Have small yellowish-green flowers that mature into berries resembling those of poison oak or poison ivy In early fall, leaves turn to a red-orange or russet shade 10 Poison Sumac Symptoms of Urushiol Exposure Itching Redness Burning sensation Swelling Blisters Rash (may take up to 10 days or longer to heal) 11 Symptoms of Urushiol Exposure The symptoms begin with a severe itching of the skin that develops into reddish colored inflammation or non-colored bumps, followed by blistering of the skin 12 Reactions Extreme Poison Ivy Rash http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/URUSHIOL_BLISTERING.jpg/233px-URUSHIOL_BLISTERING.jpg Urushiol Rash Poison Oak Rash http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens8480231module73463801photo_1260402435poison-oak1.jpg 13 The Reaction Facts The oozing fluids, released by scratching the blisters, does not spread the poison Larger amounts of exposure have an earlier onset and larger reaction, while smaller amounts of exposure produce a delayed reaction. Extreme itching Red, streaky, patchy rash where the plant touched the skin Red bumps which form blisters The rash lasts up to 3 weeks. http://images.clipartof.com/small/439308-Cartoon-Black-And-White-Outline-Design-Of-A-Man-Scratching-Itches-Poster-Art-Print.jpg 14 Wash the skin thoroughly within 30 minutes of exposure. Scrub under the fingernails with a brush to prevent c ontinued exposure Wash clothing and shoes with soap and hot water, Immediately bathe animals to remove the urushiol Body heat and sweating can aggravate the itching. Calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream reduce itching and blistering . First Aid http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5o6OBitvjwM/Sfs2RDBnejI/AAAAAAAABf8/ANO8gMq9xz0/s400/WashHands2.jpg http://www.education.umd.edu/EDMS/mislevy/Drawings/washing.jpeg http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/gmc0175l.jpg 15 First Aid Bathing in lukewarm water with an oatmeal bath. Aluminum acetate ( Domeboro solution) soaks can help to dry the rash and reduce itching. If creams, lotions, or bathing do not stop the itching, antihistamines may be helpful. In severe cases, especially for a rash around the face or genitals, a health care provider may prescribe steroids, taken by mouth or given by injection. 16 When to Call 911 Call 911 or go to an emergency room if: Someone has a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, or has had a severe reaction in the past. Someone has been exposed to the smoke of a burning plant. Call a health care provider if: Itching cannot be controlled. The rash affects the face, lips, eyes, or genitals. The rash shows signs of infection Yellow fluid leaking from blisters, odor, or increased tenderness. 17 Prevention Wear long pants and sleeves When pulling up weeds, be sure to tuck sleeves into gloves at all times. It is an employer’s responsibility to communicate the potential hazards associated with these plants to their employees Wash all tools, clothes, and other items where urushiol may have collected and might be touched in the future Learn how to identify the plants and avoid contact with them 18 Wash tools and other objects with a dilute bleach solution or rubbing alcohol. A product called Tecnu , available in camping stores and some pharmacies, is very effective at removing the oils, but expensive. It should not be used on the skin. http://www.mohawksafety.com/images/tecnu.jpg 19 Prevention Protective Clothing Long-sleeved shirts Long pants Gloves Boots Safety glasses Make sure that the clothing overlaps to prevent any exposure 20 Treatment Options Over the counter oral medicines (antihistamines) to control itching, such as Chlor-Trimeton and Benadryl Helps to relieve itch and dry up blisters. Helps to relieve itch and dry up blisters. http://www.universalws.com/images/300450175533.jpg http://images.buzzillions.com/images_products/02/14/domeboro-astringent-solution-powder-packets-12ea_90153_175.jpg 21 Poison Ivy Quiz Which is Poison Ivy? http://www.poison-ivy.org/quiz/quiz2.htm POISON IVY!!! 22 Fatalities There were no OSHA-investigated fatalities related to these plants for the years 1990 thru 2009 . Source: OSHA Fatality Data-1990-2007 There were no Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac related deaths in the general population found by an Internet search. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M9uPz0yiGvQ/THQOFDTjWsI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/nf34Za_ot0U/s1600/US-OSHA-Logo.png 23 Injuries While no fatalities were found during this search, there are probably countless times that employees are “injured” or inconvenienced by these plants Inconveniences can include itching, swelling, rash, and general discomfort These inconveniences can lead to distractions from more serious tasks and decrease worker productivity These “injuries” are more likely to show up on workers compensation claims for medical treatment then as OSHA recordable injuries http://www.imageenvision.com/150/34334-clip-art-graphic-of-an-orange-guy-character-injured-and-bandaged-on-the-head-elbow-and-ankle-by-jester-arts.jpg 24 References How Poison Ivy Works, http://science.howstuffworks.com/poison-ivy.htm Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center, http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view Medicine.Net , http://www.medicinenet.com/poison_ivy/article.htm 25 Think Safety Work Safely 26