Warning Poison Oak!

It can cause a blistering, oozing rash that takes two weeks to clear. There has been plenty of PO on recent trails and it is in your best interest to come to a Hash P-R-E-P-A-R-E-D. I can tell you from personal experience, this means three things.

1. Ivy Block - This product is fantabulous. Rubbed on like suntan lotion, it creates a protective barrier on exposed skin that the oil (toxicodendrol) cannot penetrate. I always use this.
 

2. Avoidance - Know what it looks like and run A-W-A-Y from that damn plant, bush, or vine like the plague, yes even when the Hare is there telling you to go through it! PO is three leafed, not prickly, and shiny (thats the oil). Also, be cautious petting dogs on trail, they could have been romping through PO and have the oil on their coat.
 

3. Tecnu - The PO oil can be spread to anything you touch, a chair, a steering wheel, a door handle, etc. Tecnu is great for decontamination AFTER being exposed to PO. Rub it on your exposed skin then wash it and the PO off. Be careful though, I once borrowed a towel to wipe off with and it had already been used, I ended up infecting everywhere I used it. Lesson learned, bring your own clean supplies. 

See FAQ's and Hash Supplies for more info!