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eNEWSLETTERS

Insect Repellent- Why it’s A Must!

Insect Repellent It is official - summer is here! Bring on theheat and the mosquitoes! Most people enjoy those warm summer nights but dread the buzzing of those darn mosquitoes in their ears.

Don’t worry; Family Medical Walk-In Clinic is here to help! Well, at least help recommend some preventative insect repellents for you and your family. It is hard to know whatworks and what doesn’t, what the purpose of even applying repellent is and does it really even work? Sometimes it seems like once you apply insect repellent, you get bit even more. Keep reading to find out why.

Why You Should Use Insect Repellent:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) effective insect repellents can protect you from serious mosquito and tick-borne diseases such as; West Nile, Lyme’s disease, etc. which can cause serious illness and even death.

It is recommended that you apply insect repellent when you are going to be outdoors. Research has found that the majority of mosquitoes that carry West Nile bite between dusk and dawn.

Did you know…

According to the CDC, female mosquitoes bite people and animals because they need protein found in blood to help develop their eggs. Mosquitoes are usually attracted to people by their skin odors and carbon dioxide from their breath. Repellents don’t kill mosquitoes. Instead, the “active” ingredients in those repellents are what make the mosquitoes not attracted to humans anymore.

Recommended Insect Repellents:

The CDC recommends using products with active ingredients that have been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). THE EPA will only register products that it doesn’t expect to cause unreasonable effects to human health or the environment.

According to the EPA, products containing DEET and Picaridin have been found to provide longer lasting protection than other products. Recently, they have found that oil of lemon and eucalyptus also provides lasting protection.

This section on the EPA webpage will help narrow your search for an effective insect repellent: http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/index.cfm

Good news: There are natural and organic insect repellents as well!

Check out the provided links to learn more:

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/a/aa050503a.htm
http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/bug_repellent.htm

Did you know you can make your own organic insect repellent?

http://www.diylife.com/2007/07/17/how-to-make-your-own-organic-mosquito-repellent/
http://www.journeytoforever.org/edu_homer.html

How to Apply Insect Repellent Correctly:

Always read the product label before applying.
Apply repellent to exposed skin and/or clothing: do NOT use under clothing.
Store in a secure place away from children.
Do NOT apply near eyes and mouth.
Apply lightly around ears: do NOT spray directly in ears!
Do NOT spray directly onto face; spray in hands and then apply.
Never use repellents on open wounds, cuts or irritated skin.
Spray in an open area. Do not spray near food.
Once you come back indoors, wash treated skin and clothes with soap and water.
Do not use any product on animals, unless the product states otherwise.

How often should you re-apply repellent?

You should re-apply if you keep getting bit. If you sweat or get wet you may need to re-apply the repellent more frequently. The types of repellents that contain a higher percentage of active ingredients are more likely to provide longer lasting protection.

Precautions to consider when applying insect repellent on children:

Do NOT allow children to handle the product
Do NOT apply to children’s hands
Do NOT allow children to apply repellent themselves
Once you return indoors, wash your child’s treated skin with soap and water
The EPA does not recommend using products that contain oil and lemon eucalyptus on children under the age of 3

For further information on insect repellents, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

*Please note: Anything hyperlinked in blue, you can click on for more information about that specific subject.

Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/how-use-insect-repellents-safely
http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/index.cfm
http://epa.gov/pesticides/insect/safe.htm
http://www.journeytoforever.org/edu_homer.html
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/a/aa050503a.htm
http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/bug_repellent.htm
http://www.diylife.com/2007/07/17/how-to-make-your-own-organic-mosquito-repellent/
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/DEETgen.pdf
http://www.aap.org/family/wnv-jun05.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factsheet.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/lyme_disease/article.htm

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