Wash off the poison ivy!

"I have some poison ivy soap." Mrs. Marshall began digging into her bag. "You'll want to wash off using water and the soap."

"Wash off... okay..." Still in shock, Mandy moved to grab her water bottle off her bag.

"No!" Mrs. Marshall said. "All those items are contaminated. Their covered in the oils. Leave it all behind. That's not enough water anyways."

"The... then where will I wash off?" Mandy asked.

"We passed a stream a few bends back." Mrs. Marshall said. "Let's go that way. Everyone else, stay back and wait for us."

The rest of the class eagerly backed away as Mandy emerged from the poisoned brush. She followed Mrs. Marshall, anxiety knotting her stomach. She had just gotten a whole body dunk in the stuff! How could she deal with that? They were two days hike from any help!

Mrs. Marshall led her back to the creek passing the trail. It was about three feet wide and a foot deep.

"There, rinse off in there with the soap." Mrs. Marshall exclaimed. "You'll want to take off all your clothes."

"EXCUSE ME!?" Mandy exclaimed. She must not have heard that right!

"Mandy, you're clothing is entirely covered in poison oak oils." Mrs. Marshall pointed out. "Only a run through a washing machine on high strength on high power would deal with that! You can't wear those clothes for two days, you'll get the oils on you."

"B... but..." Mandy stammered.

"Just leave them here, and the rest of your stuff where it is." Mrs. Marshall went on, thinking quickly. "I'll tell a ranger when we get back, they'll come out and pick them up. Though, they'll probably just throw them away or burn them rather then risk catching it themselves. Still, better not to litter."

"B...but what will I wear?" Mandy said, horror growing.

"I'll ask the other students for spare clothes." Mrs. Marshall said. "Now, hurry and and strip down and wash."

"I.. okay..." Mandy said, feeling helpless. "I'll follow the stream off the trail out of sight..."

"Mandy, time is of the essence." Mrs. Marshall said hurriedly. "The longer that oil is on you, the more you risk contamination. Strip down and wash right here, right now, or you're sure to get poison ivy!"