If you’ve been itching to spend more time outdoors, go ahead and enjoy yourself. However, if the itching persists, maybe it means you were a bit careless.

Lurking out there are such things as poisonous plants, with poison ivy ranking near the top irritant. Mostly, it grows on the ground and when you see “leaves of three” try to avoid it.

But once the telltale leaves fall off, don’t think the threat is no longer there. Many a deer hunter has blissfully climbed a tree full of vines and found, too late, what they actually were.

Every part of poison ivy contains the substance that can leave you miserable while you try to avoid scratching and making it even worse.

Should you think you have come into contact with poison ivy, it is a good idea to wash the exposed parts of your skin with a strong soap. Do it several times and as soon as possible after coming into contact with this plant.

High boots worn by hikers will protect feet and ankles when walking through the woodlands. If boots are too hot for you, at least take time to tuck your pants legs into your socks.

This precaution will also give you some protection from biting insects such as black flies, which love to attack ankles.

In cool, damp areas, you are almost sure to find mosquitoes willing to remove part of your blood. There are a lot of great insect repellents on the market. If you venture where bugs are waiting to bug you, you only have yourself to blame if you don’t use it.

Sunburn is another common cause of discomfort, yet it is very often overlooked until too late. Spend one day on the water at the beginning of your vacation and some kind of burn is just about guaranteed. For a number of years I ignored this and came home from an early fishing trip with the backs of my hands just about fried.

The idea finally soaked through my thick skull that using a good sunscreen lotion first was a better way.

A first-aid kit is a must on every camping trip and never forgotten on a fishing or hunting jaunt. A small cut or burn can spell plenty of trouble far from home.

Most of us who enjoy spending time outdoors don’t like to carry along anything unnecessary, but don’t overlook the obvious safeguards.

When canoeing or wading in a trout stream, there are no guarantees that you won’t end up getting wet.

Short of having extra dry clothes along, a waterproof match container can be very handy when trying to get warm and dry again.

Outdoors is a fine place for anyone to use common sense.