Identifying Poison Ivy

 

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

Here's your outdoor tip on poison ivy.

Poison ivy creates an itchy rash that you will always remember once you have gotten it.  It is cause by coming in contact with the oil of the plant by brushing against it or being exposed to the oil in smoke or the oil being transferred from the plant to you on some other object.  Some people say they are not affected by the oil, but often they are surprised by a rash raised by a healthy dose of the plant’s oil.  About 85% of Americans are allergic to the oil called urushiol (pronounced yoo-ROO-shee-all).  Also, if you are allergic to poison ivy, you are most likely allergic to poison oak and sumac because the all three contain the same oil.

There is little benefit to the plant, but some joke that because it absorbs more than its share of CO2 it is helping combat climate change.

There is no real cure for the rash it creates.  You can suffer for a couple weeks waiting for it to subside dressing it with purported over the counter remedies, or serious cases may be treated by steroids.

Prevention is the solution so being able to identify poison ivy is important to anyone spending time in the woods or field.  There are many identification guides available, but it comes in different shapes, sizes, and colors so that experience is the best teacher in learning to identify the plant.

There are some basic principles to keep in mind when trying to identifying poison ivy:

1.  Poison ivy can have different shaped leaves ranging from smooth and round to narrow and sharp, with any number of lobes.  Lobes can be symmetric or asymmetric on the same leaf or cluster of leaves.  Color is often reddish or brownish color when the plants are young then the they turn green.  In the fall they can turn yellow and red like other fall foliage.  So be aware that leaves will not give you a positive identification of the plant. The plants can grow low to the ground or be a woody-stemmed shrub.  Many people know it as a vine that covers trees with hairy looking roots.  The varieties will interbreed so you will see many variations of the plant.  In other words, don’t count on poison ivy always looking exactly the same.

2.  Poison ivy does have groups of three leaves.  It’s one of the times you should listen to the old wives tales: Leaves of three, let it be.  However, there are lots of other plants that have three leaves so this is not a positive identification—but remember the better safe than sorry rule.

3.  I think that leaf attachment is one of the best ways to identify poison ivy. It has one terminal leaf and a pair of leaves further down the stem.  The pair of leaves are exactly opposite of each other with the leaves coming from the same point.  These two leaves butt right into the stem, but the terminal leaf has its own little stem extension.  Three-leafed plants where all three leaves have their own stem extension are not poison ivy.  Three-leaved plants where all leaves originate in one spot with no extension of the terminal leaf are also not poison ivy.  It would be very rare for a poison ivy plant to have extensions on its paired leaves.

4.  Point Ivy does not have serrated leaves.  Poison ivy can have fine teeth, but it never has regular fine teeth.  The teeth are never regular and never around the entire leaf.  There are never hairy bristles or thorns on poison ivy stems.  It can have bark or wood texture on older branches, but no hair.

You get poison ivy by touching it or touching something that it has touched.  I can remember vividly getting the family a goat as goats love to eat poison ivy and I thought it would be quickly eradicated around the house.  Within a week, everyone in the family had poison ivy.  They loved the goat and continually were petting it and playing with it.  The oil transferred to them and they probably got more rashes by loving the goat than they would  have had by coming in contact with the plant.  Even in the winter yanking the vine out by the roots will give you a rash.  And watch weed eaters or you will find yourself sprayed by poison ivy oil.  Never assume you are immune as you can lose the immunity particularly as you age. 

Once exposed, you will get a small itchy spot that gets worse.  When you think you may have been exposed, rinse with lots of cold water—never hot.  Hot water and a shower will open your pores and you can make the infection worse.  Cleaning the skin with alcohol can help, but it is of little benefit after about thirty minutes.

Going to the doctor is the best cure for a serious case although you may find some minor remedies at your local drugstore—but don’t count on too much help.  The itching can last for a week or two.

Oil from poison ivy is very stable so watch wearing contaminated clothes or tools several months after they have oil on them.  The fluid from the rash blister is not contagious, but many think it as the oil from the skin on the rash can infect you.

When it comes to poison ivy, remember you can rely on the old sayings:  “Leaves of three, let it be”…and “better safe than sorry.”

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

 

 

References-Additional Reading

What poison ivy looks like

http://www.poison-ivy.org/

Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac -- the Basics

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/understanding-poison-ivy-oak-sumac-basics

East Coast Poison Ivy Identification Guide

http://www.electricant.net/projects/poisonivy/

 

 

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Hazardous Materials and Storms

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ 

Here's your outdoor tip on storing hazardous materials properly for the storm season???

Each year the storm season brings with it thoughts of preparedness plans to insure emergency supplies of food, water, and flashlights are at hand.  Plans for possible evacuation may be needed.  A variety of different contingencies need to be developed to insure making it through a serious storm.

But what about hazardous materials?  Are you hazardous materials stored and secured to insure the safety of your family and also others in your neighborhood.

Hazardous materials must be stored properly to be safely contained in a major storm.  They should not be stored in low-lying areas that are in flood zones.  Storage should not be by windows and never in open outdoor areas.  Secured shelving units are the best place to store these materials limiting the possibility of emission into our environment.  We may not be able to prevent damage like beach erosion, but we can control the spill and exposure of hazardous chemicals to our environment.

Manufacturer’s directions as well as state and federal regulations must be followed on materials including:

Solvents

Fuel and oil

Antifreeze

Propane tanks

Batteries

Pesticides

Paints, stains and adhesives

Fertilizers

Expired medications

Mercury including—fluorescent bulbs, thermostats and thermometers

Household cleaners

Aerosol cans

When a storm is on the horizon—remember our environment.  Secure your hazardous material safely.

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/

 

References—Additional Reading:

Hurricane season preparedness important for protecting Florida’s environment
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/ba9a18

FAU HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDELINES

http://www.fau.edu/police/emergency/files/Hurricane-Guidelines-Card-Labs.pdf

Hazardous Materials: Proper Storage Strategies

http://www.facilitiesnet.com/materialhandling/article/Hazardous-Materials-Proper-Storage-Strategies--9797#

 

 

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Outdoor Essential Tools

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com. 

Here's your outdoor tip on essential tools for your next outdoor adventure.

“Be prepared” is a well-known Scout motto and important advice for any trip you take into the outdoors.  There are many variables that determine the essentials that you need to take with you depending on the details of the trip, but there are a few things that are important for you to always carry.  A first aid kit should always be first on the list, but there are some other essentials…and you need to remember that even a short walk in the outdoors can turn into a longer adventure if the unexpected occurs—remember Gilligan’s three hour tour.  So prepare for some extended challenges.

 

Here’s the list for you to consider:

 

1.  A whistle—signaling for help should be a high priority whether you are in the woods or on the water.  Much less energy is required to blow a whistle than yelling and the sound of a whistle will travel much further.

2. A large plastic trash bag—a light and thin bag is easy to carry and has many uses.  It can be a rain poncho, temporary shelter, or a great container for trash or other materials collected in the wild.

3.  Duct tape also has a variety of uses.  It’s great for a number of temporary repairs and can even be used to fix leaks.

4.  Large Safety pins can also be great for repairs, to dig out splinters, and other temporary fixes.

5.  A knife is something you should never be without.  A sturdy blade can be used for preparing food, building shelters, cutting through vines and limbs and other tasks.

6.  A fire starter is important for signaling, bad weather, and other fundamental uses.  Water proof matches are fine, but even a disposable butane lighter will work.  The classic flint and steel is also a safe bet for starting a fire with dry tinder.  Some flammable helper such as cotton balls covered with wax or a candle can be helpful in wet weather.

7.  A flashlight is not just a handy help for seeing in the dark, but it is also an important an important way to signal help.  It can be seen a great distance by rescuers.

8.  An emergency or space blanket is a good idea as it takes up almost no room and can be used to help maintain your core temperature in wet or cold weather.  It can retain up to 80% of your radiated body heat and help fight hypothermia.  It can also be used with your trash bag for a ground tarp or shelter from rain--also the sun on some days.

9. High calorie protein bars are a good idea especially if you have someone sensitive to blood sugar levels.  You can burn a large number of calories foraging around and they will save you from unnecessary calorie loss.

10.  A compass and topographical map is a good idea in case you get turned around.  Even if you are in a contained area, you may find the trek to a road a very inconvenient necessity.  Technology makes a GPS unit a possibility, but you do put yourself at risk with poor signal, dead batteries, water damage, or other mishaps.

11.  Be prepared with an extra water supply.  Water is more important than food.  If you have a metal container, you have the option of boiling the water to kill unwanted critters.  Also you can have water purification tablets to ensure safe water to drink.

12.  Tweezers are a good idea.  Not only splinter removal may be necessary, but the best way to remove a tick is to have tweezers to grab the head and carefully pull it from your skin.

It’s true you may not need some of these items when you are taking an afternoon hike, but remember the unexpected can and does occur.  Surprises including natural disasters can easily delay your return for your evening dinner.  Being equipped to deal with an unplanned night or two in the wild is something you will appreciate should it be forced on you.  It’s always better to be safe than sorry—remember--be prepared.

 

 

References-Additional Reading

The 10 Essentials for Outdoor Adventure

 

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/11/15/the-10-essentials-for-outdoor-adventures/

10 Outdoor Survival Tools

http://www.wired.com/2008/03/top-10-survival/

Top Outdoor Essentials

http://listverse.com/2008/05/07/top-15-outdoor-essentials/

 

 

 

 

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Escaping Fire Ants

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com. 

Here's your outdoor tip on escaping fire ants. 

About 70 years ago, fire ants were accidently introduced to the United States from South America.  The 1/8 to ¼ inch reddish brown creatures can now be found throughout the South and seem to be continually moving north in the United States.  Their territorial nature exhibits an aggressive swarming behavior and they are known by their painful sting causing itching, swelling, and a scab. Their strong jaws inject formic acid into your skin destroying cells and raising postulating, slow healing sores.  In some cases their bite will result in allergic reactions such as hives or anaphylaxis that may be serious enough to produce death. 

It is thought that we can never completely eliminate fire ants, but we can learn to do things that make it easier for us to co-exist in the outdoors. 

Here are some things you can do to escape the wrath of fire ants: 

1.  This is a simple and obvious approach.  Avoid the ants in the outdoors.  Look for mounds looking like loosened soil or sand ranging from 1-3 feet in diameter.  Regardless of how tall the mound is, it can be as deep as 4 feet and contain 25,000 up to 250,000 ants.  Be aware of your surrounds and watch the ground as you walk being sure to bypass their nests or areas where they are foraging.

2.  Wear boots and tuck your pant legs into your socks to reduce the risk of bites.  Wearing sandals or open toes shoes is asking for ants to attach your feet and climb right up your legs.  If you are attacked, do not use your bare hands to brush the ants off or you will start feeling their aggressive bites on your hands also.  Use gloves or some kind of cloth to knock the attackers off—they won’t give up the fight.

3.  Chemicals can be used to keep populations of fire ants down, but when camping or participating in outdoor activities in a contained area, there are several less toxic approaches to keeping the ants away.

1)  Pour cornmeal around the area to create a barrier to discourage the ants from your activities.

2)  You can flood the mound with hot water with some non-toxic dish soap.  This works best in new mounds in the cool morning and evening hours when the ants are close to the surface.  It is thought that this is only about 60% effective, but will discourage ants from maintaining their mounds.

3)  Your own fire ant bait can be made with borax      
                powder.  Use

           4 tsp borax

      1 cup sugar or peanut butter

      3 cups water

Soak cotton balls in the mix in a container with holes punched in the lid. Place it a few feet away from the mound

4)  Sprinkle cinnamon around the area.  There is no true research that explains why, but ants will stay away.  Some think

1. Ants cannot digest the cinnamon

2. Ants are made sick by the cinnamon

3. Just plain doesn't smell good to ants

4. Physically interferes with the ants’ sense of smell/navigation

For whatever reason, cinnamon seems to keep ants away and is tolerable to humans as long as you do not inhale the powder.

5)  Powder from chilies also will repel fire ants—not chili powder like you put in soup, but instead the hottest chilies such as habaneros can be dried and ground into a powder that should be dusted around the area.  The capsaicin in the peppers is an irritant to the ants and will discourage them from entering your area. 

Hopefully, you will try these more non-toxic methods of controlling the ants before you go to the poisonous chemical approach.  Being aware of your surroundings and watching where you step is the simple key to finding yourself safe from unfriendly fire ants. 

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com. 

 

References—Additional Reading 

What caused this bug bite?

http://www.healthline.com/health/bug-bites

The ABC’s of Coping with Fire Ants: a fact sheet from Toxic Free NC

http://toxicfreenc.org/informed/pdfs/fireantssheet.pdf

How do you repel fire ants from a campsite?

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_repel_fire_ants_from_a_campsite

Fire Ant Control in Two Easy Steps

http://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-7036.pdf

 

 

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Identifying Mushrooms

Untitled Document

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com. 
Here's your outdoor tip on mushrooms—poisonous, or not.

A popular outdoor activity for many people is collecting edible mushrooms.  This is a hobby that should be pursued with a great amount of caution since errors made in collection of the wrong kind of mushroom—a poisonous one—can be deadly.

Each year poison control centers in the United States answer more than 6,000 calls regarding the consumption of poisonous mushrooms. About 2,500 are treated in health care facilities and more than 500 cases result in serious illness.

Watch out for old folk tales that tell you how to avoid poisonous mushrooms.  For example, a mushroom that has been eaten by an animal is safe—wrong!  Or dried fungus is safe—wrong!  A mushroom growing on wood is not poisonous—wrong!

The only way to be safe is to be able to have 100% identification skills.

The kinds of toxins in mushrooms fall into four categories. 
1.  The most serious is the toxin that will act as cellular poison.  Symptoms of this toxin may not happen until several hours or days after eaten and the poison is often deadly.
2.  The second type of toxin affects the nerves.  Symptoms may occur directly after ingestion and will include abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting.  This nerve poisoning can also be fatal.
3.  Another toxin causes gastrointestinal irritation.  These symptoms may occur right away after eating the fungus.
4.  The final category is dangerous when you consume alcohol.  The toxin stops the metabolism of the alcohol and causes nausea, vomiting, and vasomotor reactions.

You also need to be careful of eating mushrooms that may have absorbed pesticides and pollution form the environment.  In addition, mushroom allergies are common.  Improper handling and storage of fungi can too create food poisoning.

Positively identifying mushrooms starts with a field guide and basic understanding of mushroom anatomy.  Being active in a mycology club will also be a great help to your ability to identify editable mushrooms.

No matter how much education and training you have had—remember if you cannot be 100% sure of your identification—do not eat mushrooms that you have collected.  The old rule does apply…better safe than sorry.  Taking pictures of fungi with your camera is a fun activity and may be the best hobby for you.

This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com.

 

References: Additional Reading

Poisonous Mushrooms
http://www.natureskills.com/outdoor-safety/poisonous-mushrooms/
Poisonous Mushrooms Pose Danger as More People Forage for Locally Grown Food, Rutgers Experts Say
http://news.rutgers.edu/feature/poisonous-mushrooms-pose-danger-more-people-forage-locally-grown-food-rutgers-experts-say/20130920#.U5yAH_mJ-yU
Poisonous Mushrooms
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/wong/BOT135/Lect19.htm

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How to Remove a Tick

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com. 

Here's your outdoor tip on how to remove a tick.

 A tick is a blood-feeding parasite—not an insect.  They are closely related to scorpions, spiders and mites.  Ticks feed on mammals, reptiles, birds, or frogs to give them the blood meal they need to survive and reproduce.  Most tick bites do not result in illness, but they can transmit several diseases such as Lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever and tick paralysis.

 Ticks frequently become passengers on you or your dog when you are exploring the woods and grasslands.  People talk about ticks jumping on them, but ticks don’t jump or hang on trees waiting to drop down on you.  Most ticks ambush their victims using behavior called questing.  Hungry ticks crawl up a tall plant stem and extend their front legs using them to sniff the air for your scent or to sense your movement.  They can detect the carbon dioxide you exhale and the ammonia in your sweat—maybe your temperature as you come near them.  Once the hungry critter senses your approach, some may run up the plant toward you or others just wait for you to sweep by so they can grab hold of your leg as you brush by. 

 Understanding tick behavior should help you lessen your risk of tick bites.  Be careful walking through thick or high vegetation and keep your legs covered and treated with tick repellent.  Unless you have done handstands in the grass, finding a tick in your head hair or upper body is probably because it crawled from your leg.

 Always do a thorough check of your full body when you return from the outdoors.  You can remove most ticks before they enjoyed much of a meal of your blood—and be sure to check your dog too.  This will discourage any diseases being transmitted to you or your pet.

 Take your time in removing a tick correctly when found.  Do not follow some old myths about removing ticks:

Do NOT paint the tick with nail polish

Do NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.

Do NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.

Do NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, Vaseline, or similar material.

Smothering a tick with the above methods could make it release fluid which could be infected and be transmitted to your body causing infection.

 The way to remove a tick safely is to:

1.  Don’t panic—take your time.

2.  Use tweezers to handle the tick.  Do not use your bare hands.

3.  Grab the tick as close to the skin surface as possible.  You want to grasp the head of the tick and not separate it from the body when being removed.  Do not grab the swollen belly as this could push infection into your body.

4.  Pull the head straight out with a steady even pressure.  Do not twist or jerk.  You do not want to break it into pieces leaving mouthparts in the skin.

5.  Put the tick in a plastic bag and save it in case you later want to have it tested.

6.  Disinfect the bite site with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water after removing the tick.  Do not apply any salve or oil that would suffocate a mistakenly left piece.

 For the next several weeks after the tick is removed, watch for:

Pain, swelling, or redness

Red streaks leading from the wound

Pus draining from the wound

Fever

 Chances are you will have no after affect from a tick bite, but if you have any doubts about your condition, see a doctor immediately.

 This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com.

References-Additional Reading

Tick Removal

http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html

How to remove a tick

http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/how-to-remove-a-tick-overview

3 Ways to remove a tick

http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Tick

Ticks around your home

http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/departments/esps/factsheets/medvet/ticks_around_your_home_mv05.html

How do ticks get on you?

http://insects.about.com/od/ticksmites/ss/How-Do-Ticks-Get-On-You.htm

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How to remove a fish hook...

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com. 

Here's your outdoor tip on how to remove a tick.

 A tick is a blood-feeding parasite—not an insect.  They are closely related to scorpions, spiders and mites.  Ticks feed on mammals, reptiles, birds, or frogs to give them the blood meal they need to survive and reproduce.  Most tick bites do not result in illness, but they can transmit several diseases such as Lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever and tick paralysis.

 Ticks frequently become passengers on you or your dog when you are exploring the woods and grasslands.  People talk about ticks jumping on them, but ticks don’t jump or hang on trees waiting to drop down on you.  Most ticks ambush their victims using behavior called questing.  Hungry ticks crawl up a tall plant stem and extend their front legs using them to sniff the air for your scent or to sense your movement.  They can detect the carbon dioxide you exhale and the ammonia in your sweat—maybe your temperature as you come near them.  Once the hungry critter senses your approach, some may run up the plant toward you or others just wait for you to sweep by so they can grab hold of your leg as you brush by. 

 Understanding tick behavior should help you lessen your risk of tick bites.  Be careful walking through thick or high vegetation and keep your legs covered and treated with tick repellent.  Unless you have done handstands in the grass, finding a tick in your head hair or upper body is probably because it crawled from your leg.

 Always do a thorough check of your full body when you return from the outdoors.  You can remove most ticks before they enjoyed much of a meal of your blood—and be sure to check your dog too.  This will discourage any diseases being transmitted to you or your pet.

 Take your time in removing a tick correctly when found.  Do not follow some old myths about removing ticks:

Do NOT paint the tick with nail polish

Do NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.

Do NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.

Do NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, Vaseline, or similar material.

Smothering a tick with the above methods could make it release fluid which could be infected and be transmitted to your body causing infection.

 The way to remove a tick safely is to:

1.  Don’t panic—take your time.

2.  Use tweezers to handle the tick.  Do not use your bare hands.

3.  Grab the tick as close to the skin surface as possible.  You want to grasp the head of the tick and not separate it from the body when being removed.  Do not grab the swollen belly as this could push infection into your body.

4.  Pull the head straight out with a steady even pressure.  Do not twist or jerk.  You do not want to break it into pieces leaving mouthparts in the skin.

5.  Put the tick in a plastic bag and save it in case you later want to have it tested.

6.  Disinfect the bite site with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water after removing the tick.  Do not apply any salve or oil that would suffocate a mistakenly left piece.

 For the next several weeks after the tick is removed, watch for:

Pain, swelling, or redness

Red streaks leading from the wound

Pus draining from the wound

Fever

 Chances are you will have no after affect from a tick bite, but if you have any doubts about your condition, see a doctor immediately.

 This is the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com.

 

References-Additional Reading

Tick Removal

http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html

How to remove a tick

http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/how-to-remove-a-tick-overview

3 Ways to remove a tick

http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Tick

Ticks around your home

http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/departments/esps/factsheets/medvet/ticks_around_your_home_mv05.html

How do ticks get on you?

http://insects.about.com/od/ticksmites/ss/How-Do-Ticks-Get-On-You.htm

 

 

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