RV TRAVEL FIRST AID FOR FOR POISONING - POISON IVY, POISON OAK AND POISON SUMACS

People who frequent wilderness areas, camp, hike, or picnic should be aware of the potential dangers posed by venomous snakes. Even a bite from a harmless snake can cause infection or allergic reaction in some people.

PREVENTION:
Know what these plants look like and avoid them.
If you know you have come in contact with one of the plants, you may prevent an allergic reaction if you do the things below within 6 hours:
· Remove all clothes and shoes that have touched the plant.
· Wash your skin with soap and water.
· Apply rubbing alcohol with cotton balls to the parts of the skin that are affected.
· Rinse with water.

SIGNS:
Itching, redness, burning feeling, swelling, blisters.
Some people may suffer headache, fever, and weakness.

FIRST AID:
Remove any contaminated clothing.
Do not scratch the rash or it may spread to other parts of your body.
Wash the affected area of skin thoroughly with soap and cool water to remove any poisonous residue.
Be sure the water used to clean the area does not spread poison by running over other parts of your body.
Using a washcloth could also spread the poison.
Rinse the area with rubbing alcohol.
Apply calamine lotion to the area to relieve itching and burning.

SEEK CARE IF:
You have a high temperature.
The rash gets tender, exudes pus, or has soft yellow scabs.
The itching gets worse or keeps you awake at night.
The rash spreads to your eyes, mouth, or genital area, or covers more than a quarter of your skin.

The rash is not better within a few days.

Read about how to rescue a person who has stopped breathing with CPR.