{"id":2541,"date":"2014-07-14T00:01:59","date_gmt":"2014-07-14T04:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/?p=2541"},"modified":"2014-07-14T00:01:59","modified_gmt":"2014-07-14T04:01:59","slug":"stop-bugging-me-a-guide-to-insect-safety-and-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/2014\/07\/14\/stop-bugging-me-a-guide-to-insect-safety-and-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop Bugging Me! A Guide to Insect Safety and Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2542\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2014\/07\/shutterstock_28335556-2-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"shutterstock_28335556-2\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" \/>As the weather warms, it is likely that you will be spending more time  outside. Outdoor play is important for children \u2013 to move their large muscles,  enjoy the fresh air and explore nature. It is important to use sunscreen to  protect from the sun\u2019s harmful rays, and it is also important to be aware of  possible disease-bearing insects.<\/p>\n<p>Mosquitoes and ticks are a problem that can\u2019t be ignored. Not only are they  unpleasant, but they have been found to carry potentially fatal illnesses,  including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, West Nile virus, malaria, Lyme disease,  dengue fever and equine encephalitis, all of which have been reported in the  United States. Prevention of bites is very important both through physical  barriers to contact (clothing) and through the use of chemical repellents.<\/p>\n<p>There is a need for using caution when applying insect repellents containing  DEET to the skin of young children. Look for products that have about 30% DEET.  Products with lower concentrations (10% to 15%) can be used for children if  families are concerned about the potential risks of DEET.<\/p>\n<p>The EPA and others have made the following recommendations regarding the use  of DEET in children:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do not apply to infants under 2 months of age<\/li>\n<li>Read and follow all directions and precautions on the product label.<\/li>\n<li>Do not apply over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.<\/li>\n<li>Do not apply to young children\u2019s hands or near eyes or mouth.<\/li>\n<li>Do not allow young children to apply products themselves.<\/li>\n<li>Use just enough to cover the exposed skin and\/or clothing.<\/li>\n<li>Do not use under clothing.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid over application.<\/li>\n<li>After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.<\/li>\n<li>Wash treated clothing before wearing again.<\/li>\n<li>Do not use spray solutions in enclosed areas or near food.<\/li>\n<li>For use on face, apply to adult hands and then rub on face. Do not spray  face. Avoid areas around eyes and mouth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There is no evidence that non-DEET repellents are as effective as those  containing DEET. In fact, some alternatives may be more toxic. Yet using DEET  repellents on the skin isn\u2019t the only way to avoid mosquito and tick bites.  Since mosquitoes can bite through very thin fabric, applying DEET-containing  substances to clothing offers added protection with less potential for exposure.  Finally, long sleeves with cuffs and long pants with tight cuffs or tucked into  socks or shoes are excellent barriers to ticks.<\/p>\n<p>This information is adapted from the website of the American Academy of  Pediatrics. See full information at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aap.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.aap.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are some additional tips from the Centers for Disease Control and  Prevention (visit their website at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Avoid tick habitats: Whenever possible, avoid entering areas that are likely  to be infested with ticks, particularly in spring and summer when nymphal ticks  feed. Ticks favor a moist, shaded environment, especially areas with leaf litter  and low-lying vegetation in wooded, brushy or overgrown grassy habitat.<\/p>\n<p>Perform a tick check and remove attached ticks: The transmission of B.  burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease) from an infected tick is  unlikely to occur before 36 hours of tick attachment. For this reason, daily  checks for ticks and promptly removing any attached tick that you find will help  prevent infection. Embedded ticks should be removed using fine-tipped tweezers.  DO NOT use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products. Grasp  the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With a steady motion,  pull the tick\u2019s body away from the skin. The tick\u2019s mouthparts may remain in the  skin, but do not be alarmed. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease are contained  in the tick\u2019s midgut or salivary glands. Cleanse the area with an  antiseptic.<\/p>\n<p>For More Safety Tips go to: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aupairinamerica.com\/resources\/safety_tips\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.aupairinamerica.com\/resources\/safety_tips\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the weather warms, it is likely that you will be spending more time outside. Outdoor play is important for children \u2013 to move their large muscles, enjoy the fresh air and explore nature. It is important to use sunscreen to protect from the sun\u2019s harmful rays, and it is also important to be aware  <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/2014\/07\/14\/stop-bugging-me-a-guide-to-insect-safety-and-kids\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[298,299,605,492,509],"class_list":["post-2541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-insect-safety","tag-insects","tag-kids","tag-summer-time","tag-tick"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Stop Bugging Me! A Guide to Insect Safety and Kids - ABC Blog (Annapolis, Baltimore &amp; Columbia, MD)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stop Bugging Me! A Guide to Insect Safety and Kids - ABC Blog (Annapolis, Baltimore &amp; Columbia, MD)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As the weather warms, it is likely that you will be spending more time outside. Outdoor play is important for children \u2013 to move their large muscles, enjoy the fresh air and explore nature. It is important to use sunscreen to protect from the sun\u2019s harmful rays, and it is also important to be aware Read More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/2014\/07\/14\/stop-bugging-me-a-guide-to-insect-safety-and-kids\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ABC Blog (Annapolis, Baltimore &amp; Columbia, MD)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-07-14T04:01:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Natasha Wrobel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Natasha Wrobel\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/2014\/07\/14\/stop-bugging-me-a-guide-to-insect-safety-and-kids\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/2014\/07\/14\/stop-bugging-me-a-guide-to-insect-safety-and-kids\/\",\"name\":\"Stop Bugging Me! 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My name is Natasha Wrobel and I am the senior community counselor for the greater Annapolis, Maryland area. I have been a community counselor with Au Pair in America since 2000. In college I had the opportunity to study the German language in Austria at the University of Graz. Prior to becoming a counselor I was an attorney with the United States Air Force and was on active duty for nine years. I will retire from the Air Force in July 2015 after 20 years of service. Having lived abroad and studied a foreign language has served me well in connecting with au pairs from around the world in my role as a community counselor. Having hosted an au pair in my home has given me an understanding of the program from a host family perspective. It has been a joy to help facilitate a cultural exchange with these young women and American families as they introduce their children to other cultures and traditions. It is a delight to witness our children gain a better appreciation of our world. 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My name is Natasha Wrobel and I am the senior community counselor for the greater Annapolis, Maryland area. I have been a community counselor with Au Pair in America since 2000. In college I had the opportunity to study the German language in Austria at the University of Graz. Prior to becoming a counselor I was an attorney with the United States Air Force and was on active duty for nine years. I will retire from the Air Force in July 2015 after 20 years of service. Having lived abroad and studied a foreign language has served me well in connecting with au pairs from around the world in my role as a community counselor. Having hosted an au pair in my home has given me an understanding of the program from a host family perspective. It has been a joy to help facilitate a cultural exchange with these young women and American families as they introduce their children to other cultures and traditions. It is a delight to witness our children gain a better appreciation of our world. 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