As boys, we were constantly roaming the woods and river, and we were plagued by poison ivy.  The constant itching and painful rash were horrible. It seemed poison ivy was everywhere and as soon as we went outdoors and came home, we were soon scratching and itching.

For us kids, posion ivy always seemed worse in the fall, winter and spring, but virtually disappeared and seemed nonexistent in the summertime. It seemed odd our constant nemesis of the outdoors didn’t seem to affect us hardly at all during the warm months.

The “miracle” disappearance in the summertime was because the plant’s irritant, urushiol – which coats the leaves and branches of the plant – is somewhat water soluble. Urushiol washes off in water. The boys and I almost lived swimming in the river in the summertime. We virtually kept the nasty irritant washed off our skin.

If anything, urushiol is persistent. The irritant can cling to boots, clothes and work gloves for months or even a year. When a young child comes down with a case of poison ivy out of “nowhere,” it may be from playing with or handling dad or mom’s work boots or gloves.

If you have been exposed to poison ivy, one of the best preventatives of developing the accompanying itchy rash is to take a long, cool shower. Keep the water cool… don’t use hot water and don’t use soap, as you risk breaking down your skin’s natural oils which help block the urushiol.

It used to be the only relief was found from using the good, old standby Calamine Lotion. It still works, but the pharmacist has many other effective treatments.

The Cleveland Clinic states, “Rashes from poisonous plants usually go away on their own within a week or two. In the meantime, poison ivy treatment includes over-the-counter medications that can relieve the itchy rash: Anti-itch creams: Poison ivy creams include calamine lotion (Caladryl®) and hydrocortisone (Cortizone®). For blisters that start weeping or draining, you can use topical astringents made with aluminum acetate (Burow’s solution or Domeboro®).

Antihistamines: Antihistamines include medications such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®).

Your healthcare provider may prescribe a poison ivy rash treatment if it becomes more severe or forms on the mucous membranes of your eyes, nose, mouth or genitals. They may recommend an oral steroid such as prednisone.

Woman saved by bystanders on Sugar Creek

A woman is alive and recovering from a near drowning accident on May 30, thanks to the quick actions of several bystanders along Sugar Creek.

Around 12:45 p.m., Indiana Conservation Officers and Parke County first responders set out to investigate a report of a possible drowning in Sugar Creek. The incident occurred in a remote area of Sugar Creek nearly a mile from the nearest roadway and surrounded by steep cliffs and dense forest.

Bobbie Barker, 35 from Indianapolis, was canoeing with her boyfriend when they struck a log, causing her to fall into the water. Cole Riggleman, a bystander, witnessed the incident and swam into the creek and brought Barker to shore. Barker was under the water for about one minute.

Barker was unresponsive and did not have a pulse once back to shore. A licensed physician, James Malenkos, MD, witnessed the event and led a group of bystanders through administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Barker. After approximately 12 minutes, Barker regained a pulse. Within 30 minutes, Barker was responsive and alert.

A Bloomingdale EMT and another bystander, Casey Bault, transported Barker via canoe to the nearest access point nearly two miles downstream where an ambulance was waiting. Barker was then transported via helicopter to IU Methodist Hospital. Barker was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

Body Of juvenile recovered from Witmer Lake

Indiana Conservation Officers were investigating a drowning that occurred May 30 on Witmer Lake in LaGrange County.

Around 5 p.m., the LaGrange County Dispatch Center received a report of a drowning at Witmer Lake. Upon arrival, officers on scene determined a juvenile jumped from a boat into the water and did not resurface. Other passengers on the boat immediately jumped into the water to help locate the juvenile but were unsuccessful.

At approximately 8:15 p.m., Indiana Conservation Officers recovered the juvenile’s body, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘till next time, Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com  Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.