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CEMETERY PRECAUTIONS

POISON IVY AND POISON OAK ALERT

If you intend to visit Washington County Pennsylvania Cemeteries, it is important to be aware of poison ivy and poison oak that is prevalent in this area.

Both are skin irritants, causing mild to severe outbreaks.

The best precautions to take before entering any cemetery, even if it looks mowed, or into any field to access private or obscured cemeteries.  Poisons are actually worse after being mowed because the leafs are cut, releasing the oils that can contact the skin and create the rash.

Poison ivy and poison oak are NOT just active in the warm months; they can and do cause rashes during cold months also!  The best defense against contact is to take precautions before entering the field or cemetery.

Precautions to take include:

• Wear *light colored* long pants.
• Wear long sleeve shirt (take a work shirt to put on over your clothes).
• Carry old shoes to wear into cemetery.  *Never wear open toed shoes, sandals, or flip-flops.  Rashes on the feet and toes is NOT fun!
• Wear white* socks and tuck your pant legs into the top of socks to protect your ankles from contact with vines and weeds.  *White* socks and *light colored* pants will also better show any fleas or ticks you might run into and make it easier to remove the critters.  This area is sheep country, and sheep often have ticks; flocks may be in pastures next to cemeteries, so precautions are good to take.
• Take care after entering an area where poison ivy or oak might be to never touch or wipe your face with your gloved hand.
• Be careful too about touching the wrist area when removing your used gloves - you might transfer the oils from a glove to your skin (generally the underside of the wrist and top middle of the wrist/hand).  Avoid touching your hair, scratching your scalp - it is hard to get Calamine Lotion in between your hair, but poison ivy/oak oils can easily cause a scalp outbreak of itchy rash!
• Use an old section of blanket to kneel on.  You can use plastic under it - throw away the plastic afterward.  When finished, fold the blanket the WRONG way, with the side that touched the ground folded together (the outside will be semi-"clean").  Place the blanket in a plastic bag after use and be sure to wash in HOT water later.
• Do not weed-whack or mow in cemeteries unless you are prepared to quickly get to a shower and change your clothes.
• At the roadside, BEFORE entering your car, wipe the sides of your shoes and soles with Clorox™ bleach (diluted in water); wear gloves while cleaning shoes to protect you from the bleach.  Put the poison-exposed shoes in the trunk--AND REMEMBER that if they still have oils on them, you could get infected weeks later at home if you touch the oily parts.  Clean, clean, and clean them again!
• After visiting, shower and change clothing and shoes.  Poisons can stay active on shoe sides and soles as long as the oils are on the shoes.  One lady I knew swore by taking a BATH in diluted Clorox™ anytime she got close to poison ivy; Clorox™ does help by cleaning away oils, but be prepared to carry the Clorox™ odor on your body for several days.
• ALL tools, shovels, etc. used *can* get the oils on them too -- and expose you or re-expose you to the oils weeks later.  CLEAN them completely!  Completely wipe the blades or parts on the mower.

REMEMBER, ANY EXPOSED SKIN CAN CONTACT OILS.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN INFECT YOURSELF LATER,
BY TRANSFERRING OILS FROM CLOTHING, SHOES OR TOOLS.

SEE MORE ON POISON IVY / OAK FROM WEB-MD

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(c) Judith Ann Florian
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Copyright Notice - Data / info. for individuals and surnames may be reproduced for personal family histories only, but not for any commercial use or sale. Please give credit to Judith Florian and Catherine L. Caldwell for locating newspaper items and original documents. You may use J. Florian's research conclusions if credit is given. No other data or images may be reproduced without permission. © 2005-present, Judith Florian, Copyright All rights reserved.

This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 04:02