The great Outdoors beckons with the arrival of the summer holiday. Fun in the sun for everyone. But take care, human beings are not the only ones enjoying the Great Outdoors.

Mosquitoes, ticks, bees, jellyfish and bluebottle stings are far more common in midsummer than in midwinter.

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“I’ve been bitten. What now?”

Mosquitoes
Generally mosquitoes are little more than a nuisance in areas not affected by malaria. If you visit an area where malaria is a problem, see your doctor or pharmacist about taking the right anti-malarial medicine. Sleep under a mosquito net, and wear long sleeves and long trousers, especially after dark.. Mosquitoes particularly like ankles and wrists. Use insect repellant, one of these mosquito-repelling coils, or the little pads that are plugged in. All of these are available at pharmacies.

If you should develop flu-like symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately. Keep an antihistamine cream handy, especially if young children are kept awake by itching mosquito bites.

Bees, wasps and horseflies
These stings can be very painful, but are usually not dangerous, unless a victim has been stung or bitten repeatedly. This can cause a severe allergic reaction in some people.

Horseflies and wasps do not leave stings behind, but bees do. These need to be removed by gently scraping the skin with a clean knife blade. The sting must not be squeezed or pressed down as there is still venom in the sac.

Ice, a calamine lotion, or a paste of bicarbonate of soda paste can be applied to the affected area. If the victim has difficulty breathing, immediate medical attention must be sought.

Ticks
Most ticks are harmless, but even so, you should remove one the minute you find it. To remove a tick, cover it with Vaseline and use tweezers to clutch it as close to the skin as possible. Pull it straight out, as jerking movements might leave the head embedded in the skin.

Disinfect the bite with antiseptic.

Signs that you have contracted tickbite fever are headaches, nausea, shivering and sweating. See a doctor immediately.

Jellyfish and bluebottle stings
Some sea creatures carry venom in their tentacles. Both jellyfish and bluebottle stings can be very painful and the latter rather serious. Indications that you have been stung are long red welts, painful burning or stinging feeling, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties and shock..

Wrap your hand in cloth and removed any attached tentacles. Pour sea water over the affected area. You can also wash the area with vinegar, methylated spirits or diluted ammonia. Apply a sand-and-mud paste or one made of sea water and talcum powder, bicarbobate of soda, flour or sand. Apply antihistamine if it is available.

If the victim shows any sign of going into shock, immediate medical attention must be sought. Signs of this are swellings in any other areas except where the sting occurred, especially the face or the tongue, weakness, tightness in the chest, hives, sneezing, severe itching, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness.

While you wait for a doctor or ambulance, keep the victim warm, lay him on his back, remove any sting, loosen tight clothing, don’t let the victim eat drink or smoke anything.

(Information from “Great Health Hints and Handy Tips”)

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