by Heidi Ratner-Connolly
Camp staff, through sheer goodwill and the love of kids,
manage to make it through entire summers of homesickness, bed-shorting,
kitchen raiding . . . yes, and poison ivy! Many seasons of suffering from
poison ivy as a camper in Maine, with the resultant fear of repeating
the torture, two children with a high sensitivity to it, and a husband
who almost died from inhaling its smoke, have all contributed to my developed
ability for staying poison ivy free and for helping others do the same.
What Would You Doto Prevent Poison Ivy?
As camp experts, you are very familiar with this ghoulish
greenery and already know the basics about how to deal with its effects.
But when it comes to poison ivy, it is a jungle out there, and the more
you know, the better. Take the “Poison Ivy Prevention” Quiz on page 19
to test your knowledge. Unfortunately, poison ivy is nearly impossible
to get rid of, because it doesn’t glow neon like our campers’ sweatshirts
to let you know where it is so you can avoid it. The more time we spend
outdoors, the more chance we have to get it from or give it to someone
we’re with.
Education is the Solution
How do you ensure your campers, counselors, and the rest
of your camp staff are well informed about poison ivy? This really is
a case in which education is the only helpful solution — half the battle
toward a poison-ivy free summer is to provide enough information to your
staff. If they are fully versed in poison ivy facts, they will be able
to avoid it themselves and help the campers avoid it also. Hang up charts
with photos and have warning signs prominently placed. The more reminders,
the more aware your staff will be.
Prevent It, Treat It, and Get Rid of
It — Once and for All!
The amount of poison ivy oil that would fit on the head
of a pin can infect more than 500 people. Only one nanogram — a billionth
of a gram — of oil is needed to cause a rash. Armed with this information,
it’s important that everyone knows how to stop poison ivy from spreading
— before it starts! If your camp’s location is typically woodsy — if you
have campfires, hikes, adventure trails, and all the other expected great
outdoor activities, you may never be able to prevent everyone from getting
poison ivy — but every bit of information helps to ensure a more pleasant
summer for your campers and staff.
The "Poison
Ivy Prevention" Quiz
Poison Ivy
Identification, Treatment, and Complications
Originally published in the 2003 March/April
issue of Camping Magazine.
|
