The most popular of our free seminars, "How to Identify and Avoid Poison Oak" has been reorganized, updated, and revised. The seminar helps you understand the mechanism of poison oak exposure, learn how to identify poison oak, and learn what to do in the event that you or your kids are exposed. Be sure to take the Trailmix.Net Poison Oak Challenge at the end of the presentation.
Here is a summary of what you will learn:
The Mechanism of Poison Oak Exposure
The rash associated with poison oak is caused by contacting an oily resin found in the roots, leaves, or stems called urushiol. It takes only 1 billionth of a gram to trigger a rash. Urushiol oil does not evaporate and can remain active on clothes and outdoor equipment for up to a year.
In most people (roughly 90%), contact with urushiol triggers an allergic reaction. The cycle of poison oak exposure lasts about 10 days. Within two days of skin exposure to urushiol, a rash will begin. The symptoms will peak in intensity at or around day five. After about ten days, the symptoms will begin to decline.
A common myth is that poison oak is contagious. Although it is possible to transfer residual urushiol oil from one area to another, you can manage the problem by managing the urushiol oil.
How to Identify Poison Oak
Poison oak is found all along the Pacific Coast of North America from Canada to the Baja Peninsula. It also happens to be the most abundant shrub in California.
The first thing that you look for when identifying poison oak are the three leaves. Remember the saying "leaves of three, leave them be..." Once you have identified the three leaves, examine the edges. Poison oak has a distinct scalloped or toothy edge.
Poison oak leaves will change color as the season progresses from green in the spring, to yellow in the summer, and bright red in the fall. The morphology can vary and poison oak can be found growing as a vine, bush, or shrub.
What to do if You are Exposed to Poison Oak
The best way to manage poison oak risk is to focus on prevention.
Learn to recognize the three Poison Oak leaflets and avoid contact. If you know you will be hiking near poison oak, wear shirts with sleeves and long pants. Commercially available prevention cremes such as Ivy Block can be helpful in binding up the urushiol oils before they penetrate the skin.
You should also wash any gear that you suspect has been exposed to poison oak. It has been demonstrated that washing gear or clothing with a detergent will remove urushiol oil and prevent a subsequent re-exposure.
If you suspect that you have had contact with Poison Oak, wash your skin with cold water. Be sure to use cold water and be thorough. Special poison oak soaps such as Technu can be helpful in removing the urushiol. These are most effective if used between 2-8 hours after contact.
If you are exposed and have a rash, there are a number of commercially available Over the Counter products that can help with itching and swelling.
Severe cases of poison oak exposure require medical attention. Call a doctor immediately in cases where an adult or child has trouble breathing, the rash is affecting the face, eyes, lips, or genitals, or the rash shows any signs of infection. The presentation should not be used as a substitute for medical consultation. If there is any doubt, see a doctor.
A poison oak rash is the price that many people pay to enjoy the outdoors. But you really don't need to. Understanding the mechanism of exposure, how to identify and avoid poison oak, and understanding what to do if you or your children become exposed can save you ten days of obsessive scratching.
We are always trying to make our seminars more useful. If you watch the seminar, please leave a comment to let us know what you thought of it (registration isn't necessary). Also, if you want to share it with a friend, youth group, scout troop, etc. the direct link to the presentation is http://poisonoak.trailmix.net/ .
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