What To Look For

• Mosquito attractants such as stagnant water in containers, old tires, clogged gutters, etc. around your home or environment
• Insect repellents and appropriate outdoor clothing to avoid mosquitoes.
• Ways to alleviate itching bites without scratching…

Healthy Tips

TO AVOID MOSQUITO BITES

• Try to spend less time outdoors early in the mornings and at dusk. These are the times when they are most prevalent.
• Check your door and window screens for any holes, etc. Make sure they are tight-fitting and in good shape.
• Wear tightly woven clothing.
• If you are likely to face large numbers of mosquitoes dress in long sleeves and pants.
• Dark colored and/or bright, flowery clothing is more attractive than light colored clothes for mosquitoes.
• Rinse off/wash treated skin and wash clothing after returning indoors.
• Turn over or remove objects/containers that can trap water such as old tires, pots, swings, wading pools, bird baths and wheelbarrows.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and use pool covers when not in use.
• Burn citronella candles when outdoors.
• Tansy planted near a door and basil plants are mosquito repellents.
• Avoid wearing perfume.
• ANTI-INSECT AIR SPRITZER:
  2 cups vodka
  1 tbsp citronella essential oil
  1 tbsp eucalyptus essential oil
  1 tsp geranium essential oil
  1 tsp rosemary essential oil
  1 tsp orange essential oil
  1 tsp lemon essential oil
  Mix all ingredients and shake well. Mist into the air to keep bugs away.

INSECT REPELLANTS:

• Avoid DEET if possible.
• Use mosquito repellent according to label instructions and do not use repellent that contains more than 10% DEET (the most common repellant ingredient) on children.
• Use insect repellent during all outdoor summer activities – especially early in the morning or evenings.
• Repellents that contain a chemical called picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus are comparably just as effective as DEET for repelling mosquitoes. However, DEET is the only tested repellent that works effectively against deer ticks.
• More healthy, shorter-acting repellents include plant based oils such as oil of geranium, cedar, lemon grass, soy and citronella.
• Try rubbing pennyroyal on your skin to repel mosquitoes.
• Use caution with sunscreen/insect repellent combinations. It would be better to apply these separately since sunscreen should be applied liberally and repellents are usually applied sparingly.
• Don’t use repellent over cuts, scrapes or sunburned skin.
• Don’t spray directly onto your face or your child’s face. Instead, spray into your hands and then apply it to the face.
• Look out for allergic reactions to repellents. If your skin breaks out try using a mild soap and some water to wash it off.
• You can also try rubbing citronella oil on exposed areas.

RELIEF FROM BITES:

• Hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion or a baking soda paste are some of the treatments that can help alleviate the itching. You can also apply a cold pack or bag of ice to the affected area to help as well.
• Soak bites in salt water.