Scoutmaster

Understanding Toxicodendron Radicans

Toxicodendron Radicans distribution map
Poison ivy (toxicodendron radicans) is the most common of the urushiol producing plants in the eastern U.S. Contact with urushiol oil is the substance that causes an allergic rash in 90% of the population.

Even a tiny amount (1 nanogram, a billionth of a gram) of sticky, resin-like urushiol oil will case a skin reaction. 1/4 ounce of the potent oil would be enough to cause a rash on the entire population of the earth!

Poison Ivy Facts:

• One must come into direct contact with urushiol oil to get the rash.
• Urushiol oil can be spread in smoke from burning plants and debris from lawnmowers or trimmers.
• Urushiol oil is still present in dead plants or vines and remains active for five or more years.
• Scratching the rash will not spread the rash (unless the oil is still on the skin)
• Fluid from the blisters will not spread the rash.
• Sensitvity to urushiol oil can develop at any time.
• Depending on individual reactions to urushiol oil can appear in hours or days.

The only sure way to avoid poison ivy rash is avoiding contact with urushiol oil directly from the plant or indirectly from clothing, tools, or gear that comes into contact with the oil.

Within fifteen minutes of exposure ururshiol oil bonds with the skin and a rash is likely. A long rinsing wash with cold water is an effective way to remove the oil. Warm water opens the pores allowing more oil to bond with the skin and soap may spread the oil more effectively.

If a rash develops there are many home remedies and commercial cures that provide some measure of relief.  Check out the information available at the Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Information Center.

Toxicodendron Radicans profile from the U.S.D.A.

Blisters

Dr. Paul Auerbach discusses blisters at Medicine for the Outdoors:

If a blister is caused by pressure (ill-fitting boots), you have a couple of choices. As mentioned above, prior to actual blister formation, you can protect or pad the area. Once a blister forms, the blister site can be padded with moleskin or other adhesive foam, so that rubbing no longer occurs, the blister should be ringed with a doughnut of padding and left intact. For a better cushion, a piece of Spenco 2nd Skin (an inert gel consisting of polyethylene oxide and water) can be laid into the doughnut hole and the entire area covered with a second layer of moleskin or an absorbent bandage, such as a Spenco adhesive knit bandage.

The best treatment for blisters, as for most outdoor ills, is a healthy dose of prevention. Thorough instruction on proper footwear, socks and quickly responding to 'hot spots' are an important component of preparing your Scouts for a hike or backpacking trip.

Tick Attachment Sites

As tick season approaches here's some information from an article entitled "Tick Attachment Sites," ( Journal of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine) via Medicine for the Outdoors

Abdulkadir Gunduz and his colleagues looked at the location of attached ticks in 67 patients who presented to their emergency department with a history of tick bites. They noted that 20% of the ticks were attached to regions of the body that patients could not themselves visualize. Since it is important to remove attached ticks before they become embedded, and as soon as possible to minimize the transfer of infectious agents or toxic (salivary) fluids, this highlights the need for a full body inspection of any person who has recently traveled in endemic (for ticks) country.

In this particular study, the most common tick attachment sites were the lower limbs, followed by the lower abdomen and genital region, then the back (at the level of the chest), and the buttocks. Given that most people would not be able to spot a tick, which may be very tiny if in a juvenile form, in some of these (and other) locations, it is prudent if traveling through tick country to have someone you trust perform a "tick check," or use a mirror if one is available. If a tick appears to be attached and cannot be removed by the human host in its entirely, then he or she should get assistance for its removal.

This means (according to the study) 80% of ticks are visible. Tick inspections raise some privacy and youth protection issues - the use of a mirror is probably a good solution.

Associated resources at Scoutmaster
Ixodes Scapularis or Tick Season
Tick Twister
Treatment for Bites and Stings
Ultrathon
Tick Lasso

High Adventure and Wilderness First Aid Training

I lead an annual high adventure trip to Algonquin Provincial Park. I maintain a CPR, safety afloat and safe swim certification. I note that this year(2008):

“Philmont requires that a least one person, preferably two, (either an advisor or a youth participant) in each crew be currently certified in American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid or the equivalent* and CPR from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or the equivalent. The American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid is a sixteen-hour course designed to help in situations when help is not readily available. Several hours may be required for Philmont staff to reach a remote backcountry location after a message is delivered to the nearest staffed camp. First aid and CPR training will result in proper and prompt attention being given to injuries and/or illnesses. You must present current certification cards upon check in to verify this requirement.” (Link to PDF statement)

Some specifics of the course can be found at the Transylvania County Red Cross website.(In case, like me, you did a double take at this understand that Transylvania County is in North Carolina, not the abode of Vlad the Imapler.) The course includes assessment and urgent first aid techniques certification  has an expiration of 3 years and serves as a Basic First Aid certification.

While I have seen no statements that require Troop-led trips to have a similar certification I plan to take the training myself and encourage others to do so.

I have always been cautious (my Scouts would say overly so) in planning and leading these outings. Knowing that help is at least several hours or more away the first defense is taking all reasonable precautions against injury or illness, the next is knowing what to do if they occur.

Associated posts at Scoutmaster
Bear Facts
Risk Management
Critical Judgment - Canoe Accidents
Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat

Hug-A-Tree

The HUG-A-TREE and SURVIVE Program was started in San Diego, California after a search for a nine-year old boy who died in the local mountains. A group of those searchers put together an assembly program for children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how to be spotted and found.

The basic instructions are

1. Hug a tree once you know you are lost. One of the greatest fears a person of any age can have is of being alone. Hugging a tree or other stationary object and even talking to it calms the child down, and prevents panic. By staying in one place, the child is found far more quickly, and can't be injured in a fall.

2. Always carry a trash bag and whistle on a picnic, hike, or camping trip. By making a hole in the side of the bag for the face, and putting it on over the head, it will keep the child dry and warm. The whistle is louder than the childs voice and takes less energy to use.

3. My parents won't be angry at me. Time and again children have avoided searchers because they were ashamed of getting lost, and afraid of punishment.
Anyone can get lost, adult or child. If they know a happy reunion, filled with love is waiting, they will be less frightened, less prone to panic, and work hard to be found.

4. Make Yourself Big. From helicopters, people are hard to see when they are standing up, when they are in a group of trees, or wearing dark and drab clothing. Find your tree to hug near a small clearing if possible.
Wear bright colored clothes when you go near the woods or desert. Lie down when the helicopter flies over. If it is cool and you are rested, make crosses or SOS using broken shrubbery, rocks, or by dragging your foot in the dirt.

5. There are no animals out there that want to hurt you. If you hear a noise at night, yell at it or blow your whistle. If it is an animal it will run away to protect itself. If it is a searcher, you will be found. Fears of the dark and of lions and tigers and bears are a big factor in panicking children into running. They need strong reassurance to stay put and be safe.

6. You have hundreds of friends looking for you. We have children in the local area of a search tell us, "My parents would never spend the money to search for me with all these people". Search personnel are mainly volunteers who work with other professionals who charge nothing and do it because they care. Many children who are lost don't realize that if they sit down and stay put, one of the many searchers will find them. Some are afraid of strangers and people in uniform, and don't respond to yells. Many have actually hidden from searchers they knew were looking for them.

More information and a down-loadable coloring book at Hug-A-Tree

TRIX Tick Lasso

Here's another tick removal tool that looks promising. The concept is similar to the Tick Twister but is reportedly more effective. This tool uses a steel lasso to isolate and remove large or small ticks.

TRIX is the ULTIMATE Tick Remover. We have looked at various Tick Removal systems and this one is by far the easiest product to use. Its safe for you and your pets. For your cat or dog its painless and removes the entire tick. You must remove the entire tick so no saliva remains to enter the blood stream.

Made of ABS plastic with a carbon fiber lasso, this product is made to last which is why it carries a 10 year limited warranty. Made in Sweden, you know the quality of the workmanship is legendary.

Available from Ultimate Pet Products
Via Cool Tools

Related Posts at Scoutmaster
Ixodes Scapularis or Tick Season
Tick Twister
Treatment for Bites and Stings
Ultrathon

Bear Encounters

There have been several bear incidents this spring that merit some examination. Tragically one resulted in the death of a young boy. These stories serve as a reminder that must observe the proper precautions when traveling in bear country. Note that two of the incidents are attributed to improper storage of food in campsites and the probability that dry weather is causing bears to look for food in campsites.

See Bear Facts for more information.

Dad kills black bear in Georgia

Chris Everhart, a former Marine from Norcross, was camping with his three sons when a 300-pound bruin decided to pay a visit. The bear had been seen earlier in the day as other campers had chased and harassed the bruin, according to Everhart. The black bear entered the Everharts' camp and promptly sunk its teeth into a family cooler and was heading back to the woods to enjoy its meal of stolen goodies. Everhart's six-year-old son Logan had other ideas. Logan grabbed a shovel and tossed it at the big bruin. The bear dropped  the cooler turned toward Logan. Chris picked up the nearest projectile, a log from his stack of firewood, and hurled it at the snarling animal. His aim was true and the blow hit the bear in the head.
Read the full article here.

Boy killed by black bear in Utah

Wildlife officers fatally shot a black bear Monday, hours after an 11-year-old boy was snatched from his family's tent and killed, a rare attack in Utah's Wasatch Mountains.
The boy, his mother, stepfather and a 6-year-old brother were sleeping in a large tent in a primitive camping area, about 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.The stepfather heard a scream, and the boy and his sleeping bag were gone.
Read the full story here

An analysis of the responsibility of officials and campers related to the incident:

The reality is that governmental agencies can only warn campers of the general threats posed by wild animals at a given location and take measures to eliminate carefully identified problem animals. In the case of the recent bear attack, both these requirements were met. In the final analysis, the UDWR and U.S. Forest Service bear no more accountability for this tragic incident than the Utah Geological Survey can be held responsible for the damage wrought by the next major earthquake or its inability to predict the precise occurrence of that event.
Read the full story here.

Man attacked by brown bear in the Tetons;

A man with connections to Montgomery was seriously wounded, but is recovering from, an attack by a grizzly bear on June 13.

While taking an early morning walk at Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, Van Denbos suddenly found himself in the worst possible position — far too close to a sow grizzly and her cubs. The bear attacked, biting Van Denbos on his buttocks and back.
Read the full story here

Ixodes Scapularis or Tick Season

 

The season of the tick has returned - time to review appropriate strategies to prevent Lyme disease and a host of other tick-borne agents. Most everyone in this part of the world knows someone who has had or is battling Lyme disease. Knowledge of how to properly identify, avoid, remove and treat the bites of ticks (despite years and years of educational efforts) is still low. Conflicting advice, old wive's tails and  urban  legends still persist.

Here's a quick True False quiz to test your knowledge;

1. Research indicates that a tick must feed for at least 24 hours to transmit the disease bacterium.
2. All Lyme disease victims will develop a rash within two days to four weeks.
3. All states except Hawaii, Montana, and Oklahoma reported cases during 2002.
4. For the most part online information about Lyme disease is accurate.
5. Analysis of ticks to determine if they are infected is important.

Answers in the continuation of this post below

From the Rutgers Cooperative Extension via the CDC; Protect Yourself from Ticks and Lyme Disease also available as a PDF file. Thorough information on the identification of ticks.

Also from the CDC this information on Lyme Disease.

Here is some information from STOP (Stop Ticks On People) via Two Heel Drive.

Related posts from the Scoutmaster Blog archive
Tick Twister (not a miniature version of the parlor game)
Insect Repellent Clothing Treatment

Sawyer 'Just Drink" Filters and Purifiers

Sawyer offers a newer line of water treatment products that look promising. They call them 'Just Drink' filters and purifiers because instead of pumping you just drink. A great feature for Scout troops when a number of people use the same purifier. We have spent many hours hunkered over a stream pumping water for ten or more water bottles on backpacking trips; a real chore.

Sawyer offers two separate product lines filters and purifiers. Some online retailers are using the term purifier and filter interchangeably and the product numbers are confusing. The filter removes biological contaminants while the purifier provides a higher level of protection by removing biological and viral contaminants. Both products are designed to be used with minimal pressure. They will work in a specially designed water bottle (just use the drinking straw included in the kit) or gravity fed from a collapsible 'shower bag' purchased separately or included an expanded kit.  Both can be adapted to soft canteens or bladders and both can be backwashed and sanitized in the field with a minimum of difficulty.

I am attracted to the idea of filling a five gallon bag, hanging it up and having a faucet to draw purified water instantly - this would save a lot of time and trouble for groups - especially on extended trips. The cost is commensurate with other more complex filtration and purifying methods. The whole shebang looks relatively less Murphy-prone than most other options. The filter has a street price of about $50.00, the purifier about $100.00.

I suggest watching the video at their website justdrink.net for a thorough look at how the filter or purifier are used and maintained.

The filter is available at Amazon

Associated posts on the Scoutmaster Blog
Aqua Mira - my preference for chemical treatment.
Commercially Available Water Purifiers - a military study of purification systems. The Sawyer filter is motioned but the purifier is not.

Lost Scout

From the CNN website:

A 12-year-old Boy Scout missing for four days in North Carolina's wilderness wandered away from his campsite because he was homesick and planned to hitchhike home, the boy's father said Tuesday.

Michael told his father he slept in tree branches during the night, drank river water and prayed he wouldn't get sick. He said he got homesick because some of his closest friends had not gone on the camping trip, so he planned to walk to a highway and hitchhike to his home in Greensboro, North Carolina.

For three days, searchers combed the forest for Michael, who disappeared from his troop's campsite on Saturday at Doughton Park, along the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Virginia state line.

Michael, who is from Greensboro, North Carolina, had remained with an adult at the campsite Saturday while other Scouts went for a hike, said Bauer of the park service. Michael was one of four boys and seven adults on the trip.

Dave Craft, assistant scoutmaster, said Michael stayed behind because his feet got cold after playing in a creek. He was tired and wasn't feeling well, said Craft, who left the group Saturday afternoon on business.

When the other Scouts returned, they ate lunch with Michael, who later disappeared from the camp, Bauer said.

Once Scouts and their leaders noticed that Michael was not in camp, they began a search and, within a half-hour, called the park service, Bauer said.

What happened here?

How is it that a relatively small group of seven Scouts accompanied by four leaders could allow a Scout to get lost?

I am not interested in assigning blame or making judgments about a harrowing incident that could happen to just about any Scout Troop. There is some merit, however, in examining the story to prevent repeating it.

Trained Scouters will immediately raise the red flag at leaving a Scout in the campsite with one leader. That is a big no-no. But the boy didn't get lost because he was in camp with just one instead of two leaders.

Did the Scout actually decide to run away from his troop and hitchhike home? I don't think so. Note what his father said: "He started walking, and at one point when he was walking he thought maybe he'd walk as far as the road and hitchhike home."

Reportedly he left the campsite to clean his mess kit and did not return. My best guess is that he got disoriented and could not find his way back. Search and rescue professionals report that lost people do some stunningly irrational things from panic (including hiding from rescuers). I think he panicked, ran around and (as was reported) lost his glasses and hat. Lost people enter into a disoriented state of shock and often cannot remember even the most basic details of the time they spent being lost.

I don't think the boy is willfully lying, I think he just can't really remember what happened.

In order for him to consciously decide to run away he would have to be unusually homesick. He would have to overcome all discipline and fear and be so adverse to confiding in an adult leader that running was his only course of action. Homesick boys don't run, they cling. Angry boys run. I have yet to see a boy angry and homesick at the same time.

A consistent use of the buddy system could have prevented the incident. If a Scout must do something out of sight of the Troop he should have at least one buddy accompany him.

Keeping the group together would make loosing someone less likely. I am not a big fan of the 'walk it off' school of medicine, but cold, wet feet get warmer and dryer if you exercise a bit and 'not feeling so well' is a classic symptom of homesickness. It is hard to figure out if the Troop leadership was being overly cautious about the boy's health or not, but my hunch is that they were.

We are all vulnerable to making mistakes and misjudgments.  When in doubt we should consider our training, policy and common sense - one of the three is sure to keep us out of trouble.