The great outdoors would be even greater if the insects didn’t bite and the bees didn’t sting. But they do. They await your family in picnic areas, in apple picking orchards and in the underbrush, the very places children enjoy being. And insects are smart. But there are many ways you can outsmart them.
Here is what you should know:
1. Know where insects are potentially troublesome.
In North America, disease-carrying species are found predominantly in some rural and wilderness areas. Check your destination. The websites of the National Park Service and National Forest Service and individual parks and forests carry such information. It is also posted at their visitors’ centers. Many state and Canadian provincial governments have similar websites.
2. Apply insect repellents to skin and insecticides to clothing.
Safe, effective products are available for children that will greatly reduce their chances of being bitten. For an in-depth discussion of repellents and insecticides see: Ten Tips: Repellents.
3. Dress children in long-sleeved, long pants clothing.
Garments should fit snuggly around neck, wrists and ankles. Newer fabrics make such clothing bearable in hot weather. Avoid sheer tight-fitting garments; insects bite through them. Hats are also helpful.
4. Wear shoes and socks.
Do not go barefooted or wear sandals. Many biting insects fly just above the ground. Shake clothes left on the ground before putting them back on. Light-colored clothing is less appealing to insects than darker clothes and makes insects more visible.
5. Make your family unattractive to insects.
Leave jewelry and shiny belt buckles at home. Don’t use perfumes and other scented soaps and cosmetics. Check that the products you use on infants are not scented.
6. Teach children to avoid insect-provoking activities.
These include swimming after dusk, walking in thick underbrush, shaking bushes, and overturning rocks and dead trees. Don’t lie directly on the ground; even lying on a blanket is somewhat protective.
7. Check preverbal children for bites if they exhibit unusual behavior.
Uncontrollable crying or other signs of distress can be the sign of severe itching or pain from an insect bite.
8. Know how to protect your family against bees, hornets and wasps.
Insect repellents don’t deter them. Bites are common at picnics, while picking fruits and berries or collecting wildflowers. Cover as much skin as possible with clothing. Keep picnic tables clean and food and beverages covered when not in use. These insects are particularly drawn to ripe fruits and sweet soft drinks. Keep garbage covered. In orchards, leave overripe items on the ground. In the autumn, avoid close contact with flowering trees, shrubs and flowers where these insects collect nectar.
9. Remain still around bees, wasps and hornets.
Swatting at them provokes them and increases the chances of being bitten. Walk away slowly. If you kill one, leave the area. The venom odor attracts others to the site.
10. Carry emergency epinephrine kits if your child is allergic to insects.
Supply one to other caretakers and instruct them in when and how to use it. Such children should always be accompanied by responsible adults when outdoors. Carry a telephone to summon help.
