With the increase of time spent at home in recent months, many people have been more interested in getting outside – even if that means just doing some work in the backyard or garden. Hopefully, you haven’t had any negative experiences with poison ivy, oak, or sumac this year, and if you keep in mind a few simple reminders, you stand a greater chance of avoiding a reaction.
- Learn how to identify toxicodendron. This is the genus name for all of the “poison” plants. A quick search on the internet can help you find lots of reference images.
- Wear long sleeves and pants when working in the yard. I know, that’s probably the last thing you want to do in the Florida heat, but protecting your skin from the irritating oils of these plants is a good first defense, along with washing your clothes immediately when you get inside.
- Never burn poison ivy/oak/sumac. The smoke from these plants can cause serious issues if it gets into a person’s lungs or eyes.
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