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Poison Sumac | |
April 27th, 2018 | |
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We had a storm here a few weeks back that did a bunch of damage to | |
the trees in my yard. One of these trees in the backyard split | |
into three pieces straight down the middle! | |
On Saturday I took my hatchet and a chain saw (literally saw-teeth | |
on a chain that you drag back and forth by hand) and I set to work | |
clearing things. In the process of chopping and sawing I failed to | |
notice that the sad tri-split tree was also surrounded by an | |
overgrown bush of poison sumac. (If you're not familiar with this | |
particular breed of awfulness, it's just like poison ivy or poison | |
oak, but harder to identify.) | |
I was mostly prepared for the work, wearing long pants and sturdy | |
gloves. I didn't have on a long sleeve shirt, though (it was | |
hot!). So, now I'm super itchy and covered in a blistery rash. | |
Calamine lotion helps a bit, but I'm ready for this ordeal to be | |
over. | |
I've gotten hit by sumac twice before, and thankfully this time is | |
much less severe. My first exposure was on a canoeing trip where | |
I failed to notice that the creek I was in was surrounded on both | |
sides by sumac. I was covered in a rash from the waist up after | |
that trip. | |
The second time was the worst. I was in Boy Scouts on a camping | |
trip and one of the new scouts tossed in a bunch of green branches | |
into the fire. It started smoking and flew into my face before | |
I noticed what was going on. I was just about to explain why we | |
don't burn green wood when I saw what it was. Too late. I was | |
hospitalized that time, as I got the sumac in my eyes and lungs. | |
No good at all. | |
I hope this clears up soon. I'm so damned itchy! |