Now that the weather is getting warmer, you will be spending more and more time outside. Although getting out for exercise and fresh air is important, it’s also important to be aware of three common hazards of outdoor play-insect bites, sunburn and poison ivy.
Be sure to review with your host family whether or not your host kids have any allergies to any types of insect bites, plants or anything else they might run into while outdoors.
INSECT BITES
Children are at risk of stings and bites from bees, mosquitoes, gnats and even some flies. Spiders and ticks can also pose threats. These bites or stings can range in size and severity, depending upon the insect and some may be itchy, while others may actually be painful. It is common for some children to have allergic reactions to bee stings, and sometimes these allergies can be quite severe, so be sure that you are aware of what to do in case anything should happen.
To keep children safe from insect bites, you can also:
• Make sure to keep as much of her skin covered with clothing as possible, including long sleeve shirt, long pants, socks, and a hat.
• Wear light colored clothing, so as not to attract bugs.
• Avoid using any scented soaps or other products, since the fragrances can also attract insects.
• Apply insect repellents to clothing instead of to skin so that it won’t be absorbed.
• Wash off insect repellents as soon as possible.
• Avoid areas with insects nest.
• Follow the instructions on bug repellents, including age restrictions on any product you are considering using.
5 Ways to Prevent and Treat Insect Bites
REPEL THEM WITH DEET
Scientists think mosquitoes avoid the chemical DEET because it masks the human scents that attract them. But new research suggests that maybe mosquitos just can’t stand the stuff. Many humans, worried about toxins, agree.
Bottom line: DEET remains the most effective insect repellent on the market, and the American Association of Pediatrics says it’s OK for kids ages 2 months and up if used properly (go to aap.org for details).
GO NATURAL
Studies show that geranium, peppermint, and other essential oils can repel some mosquito species for more than an hour. In one study, a 2% soybean oil product kept bugs away for about 90 minutes.
Bottom line: Leery of DEET? Try a repellent with geranium oil in it, such as Bug Bam or BugBand (both offer repellent wristbands) or a soybean oil-based product, such as Bite Blocker for Kids.
COVER UP
Thwart mosquitoes and ticks by wearing pants and long sleeves. (If you’re wearing thin layers, though, you’ll still need repellent.) Mosquitoes home in on dark colors, so wear white as much as possible.
Bottom line: Although it may not be practical during the dog days of summer, the simplest way to avoid bug bites is to not give bugs access to your skin. For maximum protection against ticks, commit a fashion faux pas and pull your socks over your pants.
CHECK YOUR YARD
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, and they don’t need much: they can breed in the water in an upturned soda-bottle cap.
Bottom line: Get rid of standing water, fix clogged gutters, and change birdbath water at least twice a week. If you have a pond, try mosquito dunks, which contain bacteria harmful to mosquito larvae, but nontoxic to mammals, fish, and birds.
STOP THE ITCH
Hydrocortisone is an old standby. If you don’t have any handy, try a home remedy. Jennifer Zartarian, a wellness expert at Long Island College Hospital, recommends mixing a heaping tablespoon of baking soda with just enough water to make a paste, then smearing it on the bite. For an even quicker fix, rub the area with an ice cube.
Bottom line: Bug bites itch when blood vessels at the site swell, irritating nerves. Ice and astringents like baking soda help shrink the vessels, which relieves the itch.
SUNBURN
Children can be extremely susceptible to sunburn, so always be sure to apply sunscreen before spending time outdoors. Apply the sunscreen in a thick coat at least 30-45 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours (or more often in he is swimming or perspiring heavily).
Here are some other tips to protect your child from the damaging effects of the sun.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat and long sleeve shirt and long pants. Keep in mind that most clothing only has a SPF of 5-9, so you can still get sun damage with a shirt on.
• Limit exposure to the sun when it is at its strongest (10am-4pm).
• Protect your child’s eyes with sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB radiation.
• Use sunscreen daily, even if it is cloudy, since most of the sun’s radiation penetrates clouds and can still cause sunburn.
• Consider using a sunscreen with ingredients (such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that physically block the sun’s radiation if your child has sensitive skin.
• DEET lowers the effectiveness of sunscreens, so use a higher SPF if you are using a combination product that has both a sunscreen and an insect repellent.
Treatment of Sunburn
If your kids show any symptoms of severe sunburn, one is advised to consult a doctor immediately.
• A cool (not cold bath) is effective in reducing irritation and pain levels.
• Increase liquid intake for 2 to 3 days.
• Take aspirin for pain and inflammation (Kids are advised to take Ibuprofen containing or other physician recommended pain killers).
• Ensure all areas of sunburn are not exposed to further sun damage until healing has occurred.
• Vitamin A, C and E containing creams have a beneficial effect on the sunburned areas.
• Elastin-containing creams may shorten healing time
• Creams with a cooling and evaporative effect can prove soothing
Natural Sunburn Remedies
• Aloe Vera and other Succulent herbs ( eg. Bulbanella Species ) are reported to have positive effects.
• Cold Milk Compress: The fatty acids and possibly lactic acids in milk are reported to have healing effects on sunburn. Use a cloth or compress and soak with milk before placing on sunburned skin areas. ( Use full cream milk or half cream and milk as the fatty acids are more present in cream)
• Cold Sugarless tea: Cold ceylon tea is rich in tannins which might have positive effects on healing your sunburn. Apply cold, used tea bags to sun-burned eyelids to relieve pain and swelling
• Cucumber cut into thin slivers and applied to the affected area’s is claimed to reduce inflammation and swelling
• With sunburn our bodies dehydrate and lose water as well as mineral salts. Lots of Fruit juice as well as water will replenish your natural stocks.
POISON IVY
Do you know what poison ivy looks like? If not, take a look at this picture:
Exposure to any part of the poison ivy plant can cause a rash, which may not show up until several hours, or even days, later. You are most likely to come in contact with poison ivy in a wooded area, such as on a hike, nature trail, park or even your own backyard!
Symptoms of poison ivy include:
• an intensely itchy rash
• red bumps that often are in a straight line or streaks, from where the poison ivy plant had contact with your child’s skin
• vesicles and blisters that are filled with fluid
Keep in mind that children exposed to poison sumac and poison oak can get these same symptoms.
Other characteristic signs and symptoms of poison ivy are that the rash will worsen over days or weeks without treatment with steroids, the rash may not go away for up to three weeks without treatment, many children will have worsening symptoms with each exposure, and that some areas of a child’s skin that had less exposure to the poison ivy plant will get the rash later than others.
Treating Poison Ivy Exposures
If you are exposed, according to the FDA, you should quickly (within 10 minutes):
- Cleanse exposed areas with rubbing alcohol.
- Wash the exposed areas with water only (no soap yet, since soap can move the urushiol, which is the oil from the poison ivy that triggers the rash, around your body and actually make the reaction worse).
- Take a shower with soap and warm water.
- Put gloves on and wipe everything you had with you, including shoes, tools, and your clothes, with rubbing alcohol and water.
Unfortunately, if you wait more than 10 minutes, the urushiol will likely stay on your skin and trigger the poison ivy rash. You may not be able to stop it on your skin, but you might still scrub your nails and wipe off your shoes, etc., so that you don’t spread the urushiol to new areas.
Commercial products, like Zanfel, Ivy Cleanse Towelettes, and Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub, are also available over-the-counter, if you don’t want to use rubbing alcohol.
Remember that poison ivy isn’t contagious though, so touching the rash won’t actually spread it.
Since your kids get poison ivy a lot, having a ‘poison ivy action kit’ ready, with rubbing alcohol, a large bottle of water, and some soap, might be a good idea. Since rubbing alcohol can be poisonous, children should be supervised with it though and it is not something you should send off into the woods with them.
Preventing Poison Ivy
In addition to getting rid of poison ivy when you find it, you can avoid poison ivy by:
• wearing long pants and a shirt with long sleeves, boots and gloves when your kids will be most at risk, especially when playing in wooden areas, around lakes, or going on hikes
• apply Ivy-Block to exposed areas
So, get those kids outside to enjoy the weather, but be aware of your surroundings and make sure to watch carefully to help avoid run-ins with these outdoor dangers. If your kids do get exposed to any of these things, be sure to discuss it with your host parents as soon as possible, in case of any severe reactions.