Here we go again: People who make dumb decisions!!

[Stihlinsaine]

Who here has had to climb a tree covered in poison ivy?? My boss sent me and one other guy up a tree with vines of ivy throughout the tree. Lone behold even after cutting the crap off managed to get it bad on the arms and face. Yes there were long shirts involved but the end result was going to get shot up with steroids three nights later in the ER. I believe it was a bad judgement call by the boss. But the tree came down nicely!!

 

[tree md]

Part of the job. It helps if you wash off with water right after the climb. Of course you could ascend on a rope and avoid a lot of contact with the Ivy on the spar.

 

[Stihlinsaine]

We did all that we decended from the top down took it down. Went home showered thought I was fine till 3 days later when I woke up looking like a hot mess. Thanks though

 

[tree md]

Yeah, you got to wash off the oil immediately after you exit the tree with a garden hose or water from the water cooler or you'll get it. I guess I'm lucky, only time I really get it is when I have to saw through the thick vines and the oil gets on me and I forget to wash off my arms. I can usually wallow in the leaves and not get it.

 

[canopyboy]

I grew up in poison oak, and seemed to have developed an immunity to the toxins. Moving east, I never had problems with poison ivy. Until--a vine covered tree fell across the neighborhood road in a thunderstorm last year. I cut it up and dragged the branches off to the side. The bucked up spar covered in bucked up ivy got carried off cradled in my arms at times. We lost power, so no well and therefore no chance to wash that night. Never thought about it. Until the next day I felt like I had a sunburn on my arms and chest. A couple days later I looked like a leper. I was miserable. Cutting the ivy and grinding it into the skin without washing it off apparently is more than my system could handle.

I've suddenly become very aware of trees with poison ivy.

 

[prentice110]

They make a soap for the urishnol oils in them vines. Works pretty good from what I hear. I always keep this stuff in the truck called Ivy Block that you rub into your skin before contact. Im deathly alergic to them vines. If the wind blows and Im 10 feet away Ill catch it. I used to work with a couple a guys that werent affected and one of em would wrap his arms in it and chase me around the site. He thought it was pretty funny.

 

[Bearcreek]

I've done several. One's to many though. We try to make as few cuts as possible and if something has to get chipped just start it into the feed wheel and then back away with a shirt over the face and let the dust settle. It does help a lot if you wash off as soon as you can. Usually customers have been understanding and let us wash off with their hose or utility sink. I always seem to get it between my fingers and on the inside of my elbows after those jobs no matter what I do.

 

[fsfcks]

Keep a container of Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser in your truck. It is used as a wash, and rinsed off with water. You do not need a lot of water so a water barrel would work. While it is most effective if used within the first two hours after contact, I have found it helps even 24 hours later. So far I only had mild localized reactions but I would not be without it.

 

[Rftreeman]

Been there done that too many times, several times I had to use a pruner pole to cut 3/4 inch thick poison limbs off just to get up there, got it really bad once and now I don't get it as much.

 

[Bermie]

Keep a container of Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser in your truck. It is used as a wash, and rinsed off with water. You do not need a lot of water so a water barrel would work. While it is most effective if used within the first two hours after contact, I have found it helps even 24 hours later. So far I only had mild localized reactions but I would not be without it.

:agree2:
The Tecnu stuff is the bee's knee's!! Im so/so allergic but my hubby is BADLY allergic, we have great results with Tecnu Oak 'n Ivy Cleaner!!!

BTW - its "lo and behold" not lone behold!!!

 

[tree md]

:agree2:
The Tecnu stuff is the bee's knee's!! Im so/so allergic but my hubby is BADLY allergic, we have great results with Tecnu Oak 'n Ivy Cleaner!!!

BTW - its "lo and behold" not lone behold!!!

Bee's knee's... you crack me up Bermie!

 

[ckliff]

Darn tootin right!!!

Who here has had to climb a tree covered in poison ivy?? My boss sent me and one other guy up a tree with vines of ivy throughout the tree. Lone behold even after cutting the crap off managed to get it bad on the arms and face. Yes there were long shirts involved but the end result was going to get shot up with steroids three nights later in the ER. I believe it was a bad judgement call by the boss. But the tree came down nicely!!

I'm the boss of my outfit (ok, its only me & my boy) and I do the poison ivy stuff even though it affects me bad. I've learned how to take care of it, but figure the boss oughta be ready & willing to make the tough decisions & lead the way into battle. Like the king riding in front of the army.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

PI grows on trees and its TREE WORK..... So get over it. Wash up, do what you need to but its part of the job..... Mike

 

[Fireaxman]

I'm only mildly allergic, but since I usually have the option of scheduling my work a week or so in advance I find I can cut the vines at the base during the initial site visit (when I estimate the job) and let them dry up a week or so before the climb. Down here in summer heat they begin to wilt almost immediately and are dry in just a few days. The toxin is a lot less virulent when the vines are dry.

 

[ClimbinArbor]

baileys had disposable enviromental suits, although i doubt theyd hold up to climbing rigors.

Technu or Tecnu, w/e, is the greatest thing since sliced bread IMO. I can normally use it to get rid off 99% of PI. i always seem to get it down in my boot around my ankle though.

 

[Daddy M Dawg]

I have always been very allergic to it. I found Tecnu a couple of years ago and it works great. Another product by them is Calagel, sometimes they are sold together with Tecnu in one box. Calagel doesn't prevent Poison Ivy but it dries it up quickly. Typically when I get poison ivy it is bearable and drying up 3 days later when using Calagel. It used to take 7-10 days before I would use it.