I recently had a medium-sized tree fall in my client's yard and cut it into manageable pieces. I was planning to haul the pieces to the compost center, but then I noticed a bad rash on my arms and legs. My coworker got the same rash, and it turns out there was poison ivy in the tree. I went to the doctor, and he gave me steroid pills and ointment because the rash is pretty severe. Now I'm worried about how to handle the brush without making things worse. The doctor warned that if I get poison ivy on my open rash, it could really complicate things. I asked if covering up with long sleeves and gloves would help, and he said I should immediately shower with Dawn dish soap after handling it. What can I do about this pile of brush?
2 Answers
You should definitely bag up all that brush instead of trying to burn it. Burning it can release toxic fumes that might cause issues for you, especially if you're already dealing with a rash. Just haul it away safely!
I feel your pain! You might want to wear long sleeves, long pants, and gloves to protect yourself. A bobcat with a clam bucket can help move it, but make sure to take off your clothes immediately when you get home and wash them separately. After handling it, use a strong soap like Dawn and take a good shower. I dealt with poison ivy for years, and that routine helped me a lot!
Great advice! Just remember to be super careful when you handle it, and don't forget to clean yourself well afterwards.