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 A Little Bit More Poison Ivy growing on the ground We’ve all heard the ditty, “leaves of three, let it be”, but that just doesn’t work; there are too many plants with leaves of three! Most of us have heard a wide variety of horror stories regarding Poison Ivy. Since this plant is so widespread (all of the U.S. except Alaska and Hawaii and all provinces, except the territories & Newfoundland) most of us are vulnerable. Poison Ivy grows most abundantly in edge habitat (between shaded and sunny areas) whether in wild places, parks, or even in our own backyards. As the unit poster notes, knowing what it looks like is your best way to avoid a very, very uncomfortable rash. You may have heard people say, “oh, I’m not allergic to Poison Ivy” but the facts make this unlikely. About 85% of people ARE susceptible but for most, it takes multiple contacts before a rash develops. In other words, that first, second, maybe even third exposure to the urushiol oils in the plant may not cause a rash, but look out for that fourth time!  Poison Ivy growing on a pole It should be noted too that one can get the urushiol oils from dead plants, cut vines or roots in winter, or even oils on the clothing and shoes from someone else. If you’re outside and realize you’ve come in contact with Poison Ivy, rinsing with lots of cold water within 10-15 minutes will wash away most of the oils. Hot water only opens up the pores in your skin and allows the oils easier/quicker penetration, so avoid this. Once home, be sure any clothing and shoes that might be contaminated are washed and/or cleaned off with water or alcohol. The threat of Poison Ivy should never keep someone from enjoying the outdoors, but just a little preparation before going out can do much to make your walk in the woods one without any take-home rash. ActivitiesScience & English – Poison Ivy CureObjectives: Learn the latest info on Poison Ivy cure Materials: Access to the internet Since it’s possible that at least some of the students using the Electronic Naturalist will come in contact with Poison Ivy in the future, it seems important for them to know just how to avoid it, remove the oils if in contact, and what to do if a rash does occur. There are a variety of “home remedies and cures” commonly used but it’s probably best to focus on researched and documented solutions to this problem. With this in mind then, I’m suggesting that students be given the assignment of finding out what the “latest (2008)” information is for treating a Poison Ivy rash. Students can go online to find sources but they need to be sure the source they use is recent and reputable. Have students report back on treatment, provide their source, plus date of source publication. There may be some differences in what students find and this will be a valuable lesson in itself – not everyone agrees, even in the medical community. Sources that refer to scientific research that has been carried out should be given most credence. Related WebsitesDownload this Poster |