Volunteer
 

Volunteer's Corner!

Plants and Insects

Encounters with toxic plants and biting insects can put a damper on the volunteer experience. Awareness is the first step toward prevention and treatment.

Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac


Figure 1: (Top) Eastern poison ivy. Courtesy of Chris Evans, River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area, Illinois; (middle) Atlantic poison oak. Courtesy of David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia; (bottom) Poison sumac. Courtesy of Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society. All photos from ForestryImages.org

All three of these plants (figure 1) emit an oil called urushiol. This oil is the toxin that makes you itch. The oil is present on the leaves, stems, and roots of these plants whether they are live, dried up, or dead.

If these plants burn, the oil vaporizes and is carried in the smoke. Breathing the fumes can threaten the lives of some individuals.

The only places where you won’t encounter these toxic plants are Hawaii, Alaska, the rain forests of Washington, and some desert areas in the West.

When working in areas with toxic plants:

  • Know how to recognize toxic plants and avoid them.
  • Provide and apply a barrier lotion (such as Ivy Block) with 5-percent bentoquatam.
  • Wear appropriate field attire, including a longsleeved shirt, long pants, and socks.
  • Fasten pant legs securely over boot tops.
  • Wear gloves and keep them away from your face and other exposed areas of the body. Do not touch your skin with hands, clothes, or equipment that may have contacted toxic plants.
  • Do not wash with soap and/or hot water because doing so can remove the natural protective oils from your skin.

First aid:

  • Whenever your skin contacts a toxic plant, wash the area with cold water as soon as possible.
  • If symptoms appear (inflammation and a rash), apply topical ointments, such as calamine lotion or zinc oxide, for relief from itching.

Ticks


Figure 2: Blacklegged tick. Courtesy of Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

Ticks carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, tick paralysis, Lyme disease, tularemia, and relapsing fever (figure 2).

When working in an area likely to have ticks:

  • Wear light-colored clothing that fits tightly at the wrists, ankles, and waist. Each outer garment should overlap the one above it. Cover trouser legs with high socks or boots and tuck shirttails inside trousers.
  • Spray clothes with an insect repellent.
  • Search your body repeatedly, especially areas with hair and inside your clothing, because ticks usually are on you for several hours before they become firmly attached.

First aid:

  • Remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers or your fingers. Grasp the tick as close as possible to the point of attachment and pull straight up, applying gentle pressure. Wash the skin with soap and water, then cleanse with rubbing alcohol. Do not try to remove the tick by burning it with a match or covering it with chemical agents. If the tick’s head detaches and breaks off in your skin or if the tick cannot be removed, seek medical attention.
  • Once the tick has been removed, place it in an empty container so it can be given to a physician if you experience a reaction. Record the dates of tick exposure and removal. A large red spot at the bite is an early sign of trouble. Reactions within 2 weeks of the bite of an infected tick include fever, chills, headache, joint and muscle ache, significant fatigue, and facial paralysis. If you observe any of these symptoms, seek prompt medical attention.

Chiggers


Figure 3: Chigger. Courtesy of Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org

In areas infested with chiggers (figure 3):

  • Apply insect spray according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Do not sit on the ground or on logs.
  • Avoid walking through low vegetation, if possible.
  • Bathe in hot, soapy water after leaving these areas.

First aid:

  • Keep the affected area clean by washing with soap and water.
  • Apply a topical hydrocortisone cream, antihistamine, or local anesthetic to help reduce the itching.
  • Try not to scratch, if possible. Clip your fingernails short to limit the damage you might do while scratching.
  • If you develop signs of infection, consult your physician.