Poison Oak, Ivy, & Sumac Covered Trees

[climbingmonkey24]

What’s up guys been a while since I’ve been active on here. Just wondering what you guys do about trees covered in the stuff, especially if you get it bad, and how do you clean your gear afterward? Trees that have to be climbed, no other option for takedown.

Tecnu is good for washing yourself after to get the oils off.

Also, does anyone know how long the oils can stay active even if the plants are removed?

I have a job where one tree is covered in the stuff and another that was once covered in poison oak but all the plants were killed / taken off the tree. There’s nothing on the tree anymore.

If all the plants / vines are removed, can oil residue remain on the bark and will it eventually wash off with rain / snow?

 

[Z'sTrees]

Urushiol can take up to 2 years to break down after the plant has died. I usually just try to cover up as best I can, cut the vines ahead of time when I can, and cuss and itch alot when I can't. You can keep a big bottle of cheap rubbing alcohol in the truck and scrub down right after you get out of the tree to minimize the effect.
I think after all these years I'm finally getting some kind of tolerance/resistance built up, I still get it but not like I used to.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

I’ve been lucky in my career that this is the first tree I’ve had to deal with that has it. I work for myself also so I can pick and choose. But this is a big job where I am taking down a lot of trees.

The one that isn’t covered anymore but used to be I’m not too worried about. I’ll just where gloves or something probably depending how long it’s been (will find out from customer).

The other one I’m gonna see if I can just fell whole.

 

[Santiago Casanova]

Stay away from it is my go to. If that is not an option a heavy detergent like dishwasher detergent will get a lot of the oil off. If the itch has already set in you can use rubbing alcohol. I wipe it on with a paper towel and it it dry. This helps with the itch and speeds up recovery.

If you use things like dawn or rubbing alcohol right after contact you can minimize the reaction.

 

[southsoundtree]

as said, Scrub, not wash!!!

 

[climbingmonkey24]

Found out from the customer that the poison oak that was ripped off the tree was about two years ago and it was only on some lower branches so not worried about that. That ones a trim job

 

[ATH]

Zanfel is a great product to reduce the rash of you use it as soon as it starts to show up.

 

[Barc Buster]

I've followed this advice for a few years and avoided getting poison ivy/oak when I would probably have in the past. The orange scented mechanics wipes work excellent for wiping down after contact with the stuff

 

[Talon Tree Service]

I don’t get rashes or itches from ivy or sumac bad, and I don’t get it from oak at all. Generally I wash my arms and face with dawn dish soap and a rough rag that you can really scrub with. It has worked ok I think, this is the first year I’ve ever gotten poison ivy

 

[TimBr]

@Barc Buster; Thanks a lot for posting that video. He gets right to the point, and does a great demonstration. The video was a perfect choice.

Tim

 

[Treezybreez]

Put some Windex on it. I had the vines dripping on me as I climbed, sprayed down with Windex afterward and only had a small patch on my arm itch.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

That was a great video. And excellent point to about not getting poison ivy because you came in contact with it but because you didn’t get it off. Good way to think about it.

 

[Barc Buster]

@Barc Buster; Thanks a lot for posting that video. He gets right to the point, and does a great demonstration. The video was a perfect choice.

Tim

My pleasure Tim!

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Urushiol can take up to 2 years to break down.
I think after all these years I'm finally getting some kind of tolerance/resistance built up, I still get it but not like I used to.

True... 2 years . Shit sticks around for sure..

I'll get it like once a year, early in the season.. & after that it's as if a tolerance kicks in..

Typically that's how it goes with me, but don't enjoy testing the theory so i try to work smart around it if possible.. However, if I'm literally rolling around in it I'll try to wash directly after & if that's not possible i use the Technu Scrub once home.. The Technu that has the pumice type substance in it..

I also know ppl that don't get it anymore. So it's def possible to build a tolerance.

I will say though, the guys who act deathly afraid of it are a trip to watch.. gets old fast though... Seen a fully grown man almost cry over it.. I don't think he was right in the head to begin with...

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[TimBr]

@Jimmycrackcorn; "Seen a fully grown man almost cry over it.. I don't think he was right in the head to begin with..."

Hey, leave me outta this, willya!

 

[Jimmycrackcorn]

@Jimmycrackcorn; "Seen a fully grown man almost cry over it.. I don't think he was right in the head to begin with..."

Hey, leave me outta this, willya!

Hahaha.... Sorry Sorry.. My bad Timbr... I didn't realize that was you... Don't stress.. I won't tell anyone about the time you actually did cry, when i wouldn't turn the rig around for the three month old, stinking up the cab, cheap ass, cotton dollar store gloves you forgot on the driveway of the jobsite.. Or how you hysterically almost jumped out of the moving truck to make me stop & go back for them. You were pretty attached to those things.... even though they were covered in PI.

True Story.. Koo Koo

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[ATH]

....

I also know ppl that don't get it anymore. So it's def possible to build a tolerance.
...

Might not be tolerance to PI as much as as we age our immune systems are less aggressive (a nice way to say 'weaker'). A rash in reaction to urishol is your immune system being hypersensitive and trying to fight off something it recognizes doesn't belong there. If your immune system doesn't recognize it, it won't fight it... Just another possibility.