Publication: I'm Not Martha
Battling the Flying Insect Squad | |
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I'M NOT MARTHA - Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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Help yourself to some great self-help videos on www.evtv1.com
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Hi! I'm Lizzy!! and I'm not Martha!!!
I had a terrific weekend. My family participates in placing
flags with a veterans group that I found a few years ago.
We're multigenerational and all the adults feel it falls on
us to tell the stories of commitment and sacrifice to the
kids so we pal-up. The veterans is this group like to pair
with teenagers in particular since they feel that like it or
not they will be the ones who must assume the role for their
generation. It was interesting seeing the veterans in their
caps talking as they placed flags. It might surprise people
to know that while they told their stories they engaged in
conversation about the current war. Not all those who have
served are unquestioning about the Middle East. They are as
divided as the nation. Their willingness in the past gives
them the right to debate. I found it profoundly enlightening.
Then it was on to BBQ and enjoying one another. Grilled lamb
and pork chops, Perfectly seared veggies and strawberry pie.
Fabulous!
As to be expected the Flying Insect Squad showed up in fine
formation. Maybe going through bites..how to avoid them and
if you can't, what to do about them. Scroll down....
P.S. If you're interested we now have a forum. You can post
comments on this and recent issues at... Not Martha forum
*HOW TO AVOID SUMMER INSECT BITES:
Use insect repellents with DEET. Most over-the-counter repel-
lents now contain DEET, and are safe to use on children as
young as 2 months old, and adults. The concentration of DEET
that's most often recommended for children is 10 percent; up
to 30 percent is safe for adults. The percent of concentration
of DEET in a product is related to the length of time that it
provides protection, not necessarily the strength or maximum
protection against being bitten. For the product containing
10 percent DEET, it usually provides somewhere around two to
three hours of protection against insect bites. Personally,
I try to avoid these repellents and use natural ones. It's
up to you.
Stay away from open beverages that contain sweetener.
Sweetened beverages like soda and juice attract stinging
insects.
Don't wear perfume or other fragrances.
Avoid areas with standing water. Standing water provides nice,
moist breeding grounds for mosquitoes. To keep your backyard
safe, empty or cover pools at the end of the day, and don't
leave any potted plants outside that may contain standing
water.
Dress appropriately. Always wear shoes and dress in long
pants and a lightweight long-sleeved shirt to cover skin and
provide protection against biting and stinging insects.
For most varieties of insect bites and stings, antihistamines
will help to stop itching and lessen swelling, and
acetaminophen or ibuprofen will also help reduce swelling
while relieving some pain. Some people use a topical steroid
cream like hydrocortisone to alleviate itching.
WHAT TO DO:
*Bee, Wasp, Hornet, and Yellow Jacket Stings
A bee will leave behind a stinger attached to a venom sac.
Try to remove it as quickly as possible. One way is to gently
scrape it out with a blunt-edged object, such as a credit
card or a dull knife.
Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to
three times a day until the skin is healed.
Apply a cold pack, an ice pack wrapped in a cloth, or a cold,
wet washcloth for a few minutes.
Give acetaminophen for pain.
For pain and itching, give an over-the-counter oral anti-
histamine, if your child's doctor says it's OK; follow dosage
instructions for your child's age and weight. You could also
apply a corticosteroid cream or calamine lotion to the sting
area.
A sting anywhere in the mouth warrants immediate medical
attention. That's because stings in the mucous membranes of
the mouth can quickly cause severe swelling that may block
airways. You should seek medical care if you note a large
skin rash, a large area of swelling around the sting site,
or if swelling or pain persists for more than 72 hours. You
should seek immediate medical care if you notice any of the
following signs, which may indicate a serious or even po-
tentially life-threatening allergic reaction:
wheezing or difficulty breathing
tightness in throat or chest
swelling of the lips
dizziness or fainting
nausea or vomiting
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* Spider Bites
Most spiders found in the United States are harmless, with
the exception of the black widow and the brown recluse (or
violin) spider. Both of these are found in warm climates.
I have had a brown recluse bite on my foot. Ouch! and long
lasting discomfort.
Wash the area carefully with soap and water. Do this two to
three times a day until skin is healed.
Apply cool compresses.
Give acetaminophen for pain.
To protect against infection, apply an antibiotic ointment
and keep your hands washed.
If you have any reason to suspect you've been bitten by a
black widow or brown recluse spider, apply ice to the bite
site and head for the emergency room. This is a very good
idea, let me tell you. These bites get very nasty and sooo
painful...experience talking here.
Symptoms include:
a deep blue or purple area around the bite, surrounded by a
whitish ring and a large outer red ring
body rash
muscle spasms, tightness, and stiffness
abdominal pain
headache or fever
general feeling of sickness
lack of appetite
joint pain
nausea or vomiting
In the southwest United States, an unidentified bite may be
caused by a scorpion. Take your child to the emergency room
immediately.
* Tick Bites:
People who live in the northeast and upper Midwest need to
be on the look-out for ticks carrying Lyme disease this
summer. Those at the greatest risk are people who spend a
lot of time outdoors, especially in wooded areas.
If you are going on a hile or where you know you are at risk
for ticks...wear white clothing and have your sock cover the
pant hem. It will make the tick check much easier. And don't
forget to check hair. It happens, what can I tell you.
About 80 percent of individuals with Lyme disease will
develop a rash that looks like a bull's-eye near the bite.
The rash is often accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as
fever or headache, nausea and vomiting. Some people, how-
ever, may only develop flu-like symptoms and not a rash,
Check your children and pets for ticks carefully after
you've been in or around a wooded area. Common types of
ticks include dog ticks and deer ticks (deer ticks may be
carriers of Lyme disease).
If you find a tick:
If you find the tick on your child...Call your child's
doctor. The doctor may want you to save the tick after
removal (you can put it in a jar of alcohol to kill it).
Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth,
next to your skin.
Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go, then
swab the bite site with alcohol.
Don't use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill and remove
a tick.
Keep yourself bite-free, please. And if you get one,
remember how to help yourself and those you look after.
Lizzy
Questions...Comments...? email Lizzy
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Take a moment to answer GopherCentral's Question of the Week:
The Iraqi parliament has asked the US to withdraw. Should we
just leave?
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To see more issues like this visit: Not Martha Archives
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