The kids and adults should have a good idea of the poison ivy plant and take care to stay away from it.
When walking along bushes, woody areas, it is better to wear long pants and shirts with long sleeves and protect your hands and feet by wearing boots and gloves.
This minimizes the chances of accidentally being exposed to the plant poison ivy.
Many people develop an allergy to urushiol, the chemical found in the plant which triggers the rash which is very itchy.
Firstly, if the person is sure that he has come in to contact with the poison ivy plant, he has to clean the exposed area with the help of alcohol.
Next, the person has to wash the exposed part with water without using soap.
Lastly, using a glove, all the things used, like for example, shoes, clothes, tools, etc should be wiped by rubbing alcohol and water.
Another home remedy used for treating the rash is baking soda.
The exposed area should be washed well and a paste made of baking soda and water should be applied on the lesions.
Baking soda helps to neutralize the acid nature of the poison and stops in preventing the rash spreading to all parts of the body.
Calamine lotion is another handy remedy that can be used to apply on the area exposed to the poison ivy plant.
Lacto calamine can be applied on the lesions as it helps in preventing the itching.
It is basically an emulsion and so it quickly dries up when applied on the lesion and leaves behind a dry powder.
Vicks Vaporub is also used as a remedy for the treatment of poison ivy.
This is easily accessible so it can be used as an initial first aid measure when the rashes appear on the exposed area.