Skin Rashes

By Nurse Diane

It’s a beautiful day; you are taking a nice stroll.... The grass is green, the trees are green, and there are green leaves everywhere!  But beware!  Leaves of 3 let it be!  Yes folks, I’m talking about poison ivy and poison oak.    This is a real problem in the southern states and I’m sure other area as well.  I am highly allergic, just writing is is making me itch!  There was a large oak tree across the street from my school.  I would stand by it after school to wait for my mother to pick me up.  It didn't take too long for me to learn that it was covered with those nasty green leaves.   I touched it and swole up like that blueberry girl on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I had to go to the doctor and get what must have been a steroid shot back then my mother covered the rash with that pink calamine lotion.  Not only was I miserable with itchy seeping blisters all over my swollen face pink colored face, but also I looked like a circus clown.

When my father gets around it, he immediately starts a steroid dose pack to keep from getting a bad case of it.  Not only can you get a reaction from touching the leaves, but also if the leaves are burning and the smoke gets near you, you can get the rash, and also if you touch someone who has it you can get it.

I recently read another article about a new plant that is making its way across the country.  Its called Giant hogweed and it is a plant that looks like a supersized version of Queen Anne’s lace and a touch can cause blisters, burns and blindness.to see a short video about this plant, click here:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/innocent-looking-plant-poses-serious-151214291.html

Symptoms of the rash or contact dermatitis as it is more formally known as include:

Itching at the site

Redness at the site

Heat at the site

Localized swelling or tenderness

Blisters or rash

Treatment

If you come in contact with poison ivy or any poisonous plant, wash immediately with soap and water.  If a rash develops use corticosteroid creams and ointments if the condition becomes unbearable, however sometimes the best treatment is no treatment.  Over treatment of skin rashes may cause you to develop reactions to other irritants.  However, you may need corticosteroid medication if it worsens.  It usually takes 2 or 3 weeks before the symptoms disappear.

Prevention

As my daddy will tell you, if it is green and has leaves, stay away from it!

(Photos from Google) 

Poison Prevention Awareness

By Terry Orr

National Poison Prevention Week is observed in the US the third week of March.  The goal of the week is to raise awareness of the risk of being poisoned by household products, medicines, pesticides, plants, bites and stings, food poisoning, and fumes.  Awareness being duly raised, it is hoped that this will prevent poisoning. (Source: Wikipedia) 

Safety Tips for You, Your Family, and Friends

Drugs and Medicines

• Only take prescription medications that are prescribed to you by a healthcare professional. Misusing or abusing prescription or over-the-counter medications is not a “safe” alternative to illicit substance abuse.
• Never take larger or more frequent doses of your medications, particularly prescription pain medications, to try to get faster or more powerful effects.
• Never share or sell your prescription drugs. Keep all prescription medicines (especially prescription painkillers, such as those containing methadone, hydrocodone, or oxycodone), over-the-counter medicines (including pain or fever relievers and cough and cold medicines), vitamins and herbals in a safe place that can only be reached by people who take or give them.
• Follow directions on the label when you give or take medicines. Read all warning labels. Some medicines cannot be taken safely when you take other medicines or drink alcohol.
• Turn on a light when you give or take medicines at night so that you know you have the correct amount of the right medicine.
• Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers.
• Monitor the use of medicines prescribed for children and teenagers, such as medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
• Dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs.
• Participate in National Drug Take Back days 

Household Chemicals and Carbon Monoxide

• Always read the label before using a product that may be poisonous.
• Keep chemical products in their original bottles or containers. Do not use food containers such as cups, bottles, or jars to store chemical products such as cleaning solutions or beauty products.
• Never mix household products together. For example, mixing bleach and ammonia can result in toxic gases.
• Wear protective clothing (gloves, long sleeves, long pants, socks, shoes) if you spray pesticides or other chemicals.
• Turn on the fan and open windows when using chemical products such as household cleaners.

Keep Young Children Safe from Poisoning

Be Prepared

• Put the poison help number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone and save it on your cell phone. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Be Smart about Storage

• Store all medicines and household products up and away and out of sight in a cabinet where a child cannot reach them.
• When you are taking or giving medicines or are using household products:

• Do not put your next dose on the counter or table where children can reach them—it only takes seconds for a child to get them.
• If you have to do something else while taking medicine, such as answer the phone, take any young children with you.
• Secure the child safety cap completely every time you use a medicine.
• After using them, do not leave medicines or household products out.  As soon as you are done with them,  put them away and out of sight in a cabinet where a child cannot reach them.
• Be aware of any legal or illegal drugs that guests may bring into your home. Ask guests to store drugs where children cannot find them.  Children can easily get into pillboxes, purses, backpacks, or coat pockets.

What To Do If A Poisoning Occurs

• Remain calm.
• Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and the victim has collapsed or is not breathing. If the victim is awake and alert, dial 1-800-222-1222. Try to have this information ready:

• the victim’s age and weight
• the container or bottle of the poison if available
• the time of the poison exposure
• the address where the poisoning occurred

• Stay on the phone and follow the instructions from the emergency operator or poison control center.

References and Links:

http://www.poisonprevention.org/poison.htm 

http://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/what-can-you-do/national-poison-prevention-week/index.html 

http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-resources-by-risk-area/poison/household-poison-prevention-1.html 

[All images from Google] 

Poison Prevention Week

(Google Image)

By Akindman

The 50th Anniversary of National Poison Prevention Week is March 18-24, 2012.

(Google Image) 

In 1962, West Side Story won the Oscar® for Best Picture, John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth, the Rolling Stones made their singing debut in London, Johnny Carson took over as permanent host of The Tonight Show and the Beatles released "Love Me Do," their first single for EMI. It was also the year that Congress passed a law to authorize the President to designate annually the third week in March as National Poison Prevention Week. President John F. Kennedy signed this act into law, after which the Poison Prevention Week Council was formed to coordinate this annual event.

(Google Image) 

Did you know that each year, more than 1.2 million children ages 5 and under are unintentionally poisoned? Whether it's medication on your dresser, cleaning supplies under your kitchen sink, cosmetics in your bathroom or carbon monoxide from gas appliances in your home, you can take simple steps to keep your kids safe.

(Google Image) 

Good Links for more information:

http://www.poisonprevention.org/poison.htm

http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-spotlight/poison-prevention-week/

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/poisonprevention.htm

http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/cm_janfeb2012_national_poison_prevention_week.aspx

Skin Rashes that last and last …

by Diane Forrest

Coaster's hit song from 1959 - Poison Ivy:

Your gonna need an ocean

Of calamine lotion

You’ll be scratching like a hound

The minute you start to mess around

It’s a beautiful day, you are taking a nice stroll....the grass is green, the trees are green, there are green leaves everywhere!  But beware!  Leaves of 3 let it be!  Yes folks, I’m talking about poison ivy and poison oak.

    

This is a real problem in the southern states and I am sure other areas as well.  I am highly allergic, just writing is making me itch!  There was a large oak tree across the street from my school.  I would stand by it after school to wait for my mother to pick me up.  It didn't take too long for me to learn that it was covered with those nasty green leaves.   I touched it and swole up like that blueberry girl on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I had to go to the doctor and get what must have been a steroid shot  Back then my mother covered the rash with that pink calamine lotion.  Not only was I miserable with itchy seeping blisters all over my swollen face pink colored face, but I looked like a circus clown.

When my father gets around it, he immediately starts a steroid dose pack to keep from getting a bad case of it.  Not only can you get a reaction from touching the leaves, but if the leaves are burning and the smoke gets near you, you can get the rash, and also if you touch someone who has it you can get it.

Symptoms of the rash or contact dermatitis as it is more formally known as include:

• Itching at the site
• Redness at the site
• Heat at the site
• Localized swelling or tenderness
• Blisters or rash

Treatment

If you come in contact with poison ivy, wash immediately with soap and water.  If a rash develops use corticosteroid creams and ointments if the condition becomes unbearable, however sometimes the best treatment is no treatment.  Over treatment of skin rashes may cause you to develop reactions to other irritants.  However, you may need corticosteroid medication if it worsens.  It usually takes 2 or 3 weeks before the symptoms disappear.

Prevention

As my daddy will tell you, if it is green and has leaves, stay away from it!

For more information, please visit one of these sites:

www.poisonivy.aesir.com

www.webmd.com

www.poison-ivy.org