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paintballimpact.com / Safety / Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy - Paintball Injuries To Avoid
While paintball as a sport has a lower incidence of injury than bowling and gold, there are some hazards to look out for. Included in the things to look out for in outdoor paintball are poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. While poison ivy is not an extremely dangerous irritant, it can cause a moderate amount of discomfort, and should be avoided if possible. Notify the field owner, field operator, or referee if you have observed a poison ivy patch. In this article, we will list some information about poison ivy, its appearance, and how it can be avoided. This article will also recommend some important steps towards treating areas affected by poison ivy, and how to clean the area.
Poison Ivy is a plant from the order Sapinadles, of the division Magnoliophyta, and in the family Anacardiaceae. The species Toxicodendron radicans or Rhus toxicodendron is the official name for the plant we call poison ivy, though it is not true ivy. Poison Ivy is a woody vine that produces oil called urushial. When a paintball player comes in contact with the plant, the urushial rubs off on the skin and produces an itchy and uncomfortable rash called urushial-induced contact dermatitis, then you can just say that it itches like hell.
While the poison ivy can cause extreme discomfort when coming in contact with human skin, it is not usually a major health risk. Paintball players coming in contact with this nasty plant should retreat back to the home base and thoroughly wash the area with cold water. The paintball layer must refrain from scratching the affected region as it could spread the toxin around and expand the affected area. If the exposed player does develop an allergic reaction, then he must resist the urge to vigorously scratch the affected area. After the urushial has been washed off with cold water, the reaction can no longer spread. Nevertheless, if you keep scratching you may cause cuts to the area, leaving the part of your body open to other infections.
Some popular treatments for poison ivy include washing the area out with warm water, applying calamine lotion. In the case of severe allergic reactions, typical corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone may be smeared on the itchy spot. There are a number of other topical creams on the market designed to prevent the poison ivy rash from occurring, including Hydrophilic, Stokagard Outdoor Cream, Hollister Moisture Barrier, Ivy black, and Ivy Shield. Usually topical corticosteroids and products like Hollister Moisture Barrier are not necessary, because untreated the rash will subside on its own in about two weeks. The Poison Ivey reaction has not been know to spread from one person to the other, and is not contagious.
Appearance of Poison Ivy.
If you have ever heard the verse "Leaves of three, let it be" you would be hearing a short poem describing the tree almond shaped leaflets of the poison ivy plant. Berries grow at the base of the leaves and are grey-white in color. The color varies on the leaves, depending on the time of the year. When young leaves are a light green and transform to darker green as they get older. Poison ivy leaves turn light red in autumn and as the weather gets colder. Paintball players must look out for this troublesome plant as they run through the woods and dive through the brush.
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