NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
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70 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2016 head of a pin. The resin is stable and long lasting – it can stay active for as long as five years on a dead plant. Once it touches human skin, urushiol begins to penetrate in a matter of minutes. Individuals who are highly sensitive to the chemical will experience a reaction in the form of a linear rash (sometimes resembling insect bites) within 12 to 24 hours. Blisters and severe itching will follow redness and swelling. After a few days, the blisters become crusted and begin to scale. The rash can affect any part of the body, but especially areas where the skin is thinner and more sensitive to ivy sap. Soles of the feet and palms of the hands are thicker and therefore less susceptible. The severity of reaction varies from person to person and may also change from year to year for some people. Severe reactions include swelling in the throat, dizziness, weakness and breathing problems. If you experience extreme itching, or if infection sets in, seek medical attention. And remember: you can have an allergic reaction to poison ivy even if you never leave your house. Anything or anybody that has come into contact with poison ivy can spread it. Agents for spreading urushiol include clothing, tools, sporting goods and pets. Contrary to popular belief, though, you cannot get a poison ivy rash from someone else's rash or blisters. The liquid inside your blisters is not urushiol but fluids your body has produced in an attempt to prevent the worst effects of exposure. Still, breaking the blisters is not recommended because it could prevent healing and lead to scarring. Treatment The best preventative for poison ivy is to avoid it. Don't touch the plant or walk through it. If you must walk through poison ivy, step on the plants with the sole of your shoe and always wear long pants. The plant's almost invisible oily resin sticks to most surfaces, and can even be carried in the wind or in smoke when it is burned. Standard barrier creams offer little protection against poison ivy. If you have had a brush with the plant, wash all exposed areas of your body with cold, running water as soon as you can reach a stream, lake or garden hose. If possible, also clean with soap. If you do this within five minutes of exposure, the water will neutralize or deactivate the urushiol in the plant's sap and keep it from spreading to other parts of the body. Jewelweed, which typically grows near poison ivy, was used by American Indians to counteract the effect of contact with poison ivy, nettles and other skin rashes. Three to five feet tall with oval, rounded leaves, jewelweed is most easily identified by its trumpet-shaped flowers, which hang from the plant like necklace pendants. The juice from crushed leaves and stems were used to help prevent a poison ivy rash or lessen its effects. After returning home, rinse all clothing outside with a garden hose before bringing it into the house, where resin can easily be transferred to rugs or furniture. Since urushiol can remain active for months, it is important to wash all camping, hiking and hunting gear that may be carrying the resin. If you do develop a rash, avoid scratching the blisters. POISON OAK also has three leaves, and is found on the West Coast and in states southeast of Nebraska. POISON SUMAC is found along the Mississippi River and swampy areas in the southeastern part of the country. JEWELWEED was used by American Indians to counteract the effects of contact with poison ivy.