Protecting Against Bites and Stings

The best way to deal with bug bites and stings is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Here are some prevention tips:

• Cover up: Wear long sleeves, pants and socks, and tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks, boots or shoes, if possible. This is especially important to avoid tick bites if you are in a wooded area.
• Avoid buggy areas: Stay away from places where insects like to hang out, such as near flowers, trees, bushes and piles of wood. If hiking or camping, stay on the path or in clearings, and avoid brushing up against the trees and other plants.
• Use repellents: Apply insect repellents on skin and clothing before going outdoors. A repellent containing the chemical DEET protects skin and wards off mosquitoes, ticks and other insects. For your child, it is recommended that you use a repellent with no more than 10 percent to 30 percent DEET. Repellents should not be applied to the hands or face, or used on infants two months or younger. To avoid irritation, dermatologists also recommend that repellents be washed off of skin with soap and water when coming inside. Dermatologists also recommend using insecticides that contain the active ingredient permethrin on clothing. This chemical provides protection against bites and lasts through several wash cycles.
• Don’t panic: When in contact with bees, wasps, mosquitoes or other insects, or if you are surrounded by a swarm of these creatures, stay calm, keep arms still and walk slowly out of the way. Don’t wave arms or shoo insects away. These movements will excite or frighten the insects, and they may attack.
• Be careful with food: Don’t eat or drink near insects. If you’re having a barbecue or picnic, make sure all the food is covered.
• Avoid perfumes and lotions: Scented perfumes, lotions and creams attract insects. Use odorless sunscreens and other lotions.
• Check the windows: Keep the windows closed in your car and house, or use window screens on your house to keep the insects out.
• Remove nests, webs: If you see insects’ nests or spiders’ webs near your home or yard, remove them immediately and tell your children not to pick up or touch them.
• Get rid of standing water: Avoid pools of water in gutters, buckets or other receptacles around your home. These are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
• Check for ticks: After being outside, check your child for ticks and remove any you find. Make sure to look at your child’s hair, under the arms and in and around the ears, in and around the belly button, at the back of the knees, between legs and around the waist.

Next: Treating Bites and Stings