Hi,

The warmth and beauty of summer brings with it safety factors that we want you to consider. As we are more and more outside in nature, we must be aware of our surroundings and the safety issues involved. I was recently on a picnic and found myself within a swarm of bees that were after the same food we were trying to enjoy. It was quite annoying and somewhat nerve racking; knowing that the sting they can put on us all can be extremely painful and to some life threatening.

Bee stings can be dangerous and life threatening to some. Many people are allergic to the venom found in bee stings and can have serious reactions if not treated quickly. There is a theory that by placing a penny or any type of coin on the bee sting, the venom will dissipate. The theory is based on the iron found in our monetary coins. Supposedly the iron “pulls out” the venom from the sting and stops a possible reaction. Certainly not proven by a scientific method, however this theory has garnered enough positive results and evidence to result in being a well-known, widespread conjecture.

Bee stings have been a nuisance since prehistoric times. Drawings of bee’s have appeared on caveman dwellings as found by archaeologists. They biggest factor in their existence is that they are insects that feed on food meant for human consumption. Thus at most cookouts of any type, bee’s can and are usually present.

To avoid attracting bees, try the following:
• Avoid fragrances, including hair spray, scented soaps, lotions, and oils. Bees usually approach children with a sweet scent.
• Don’t wear brightly colored clothing, particularly floral patterns, i.e. don’t look like a flower patch. Bees also see in the ultraviolet range. If the pattern lights up under black light, it is particularly interesting to bees.
• Be very careful with food. Cans of soda are notorious: Bees climb in unobserved, and are frightened into stinging when the child drinks. Something as small as a forgotten raspberry jam stain on a sweater can be a problem.
If a bee does land, take steps to avoid frightening it:
• Hold still. Tell kids to pretend they’re statues. Rapid movement startles the bee and encourages stinging.
• Try blowing gently on the bee. This can encourage it to move on while not startling it.
• Wear shoes. Bees will of course be frightened if you step on or near them. Shoes don’t make them less frightened, but they do protect feet from frightened bees.
• Wear long pants when you know you are going to be in an area that is likely to have bees in it, such as a field.

Keep in mind, the bee’s stinger is barbed. In the act of stinging, the stinger is torn from the bee, along with the venom-filled poison sac and attached muscles. The barbs continue to work the stinger deeper into the flesh for several minutes, while venom continues to be injected. Once stung, doctors recommend removing the stinger by with a scraping motion by using the rigid edge of a credit card or a dull butter knife. Never attempt to pull out the stinger using fingers or tweezers, since this will result in the injection of more venom.

If you are stung, treat the wound in the following ways:
• Remove the stinger with all haste, in whatever manner is most convenient. If you see a little black dot in the wound, part of the stinger is still present.
• Clean the area with soap and water.
• Consider applying an antiperspirant to the site. An ingredient called A aluminum chlorohydrate may reduce the effect of bee venom.
• Apply cold. Use ice or cool water for 10 to 30 minutes after the sting. This blunts the body’s allergic response.
• An antihistamine such as Benadryl, taken by mouth, can give some added relief, and help prevent the reaction from spreading.
• A shake lotion such as calamine can be helpful. A paste made of baking soda and water can have a similar effect.
• Topical hydrocortisone can also provide some symptomatic relief.
• Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for systemic pain relief.
Cooking outdoors is a big part of summer, but so are bees. Keep this information handy; it will help you prevent and if you fall prey to a bee sting, treat the area in the safest and best way possible.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford

Hi,

As we continue in our summer safety series, we must consider poison ivy. Let’s take a closer look at what it is, prevention and treatment techniques.

There is a saying among campers and outdoorsmen that we should all pay head to, “leaves of three, let them be.” This refers to poison ivy. Poison Ivy has three leaves and contains oil called urushiol. This oil is found in the sap of poison ivy and is the cause of the break out of an itchy, painful rash that develops as a result of just brushing up against poison ivy.

Poison Ivy grows almost everywhere in the United States and nearly 85% of all people can and do develop allergies to it when they come in contact with the plant.

This brings up the question, with such a high percentage of people that have a reaction to poison ivy in addition to its vast presence in our nature, why doesn’t the National Forestry Division do something to get rid of it? Simply put, humans are the only living creatures that have this negative reaction to it. Contradictory, moose, elk, deer and birds seem to be immune to the urushiol in the plants and in fact use the plant as a good source of nutrition. Further, getting rid of poison ivy is very difficult. Trying to burn it only causes the urushiol to travel in smoke which in turn gets inside of peoples nostrils and lungs, thus causing the negative reactions. Finally, because of the vast presence of poison ivy in nature, people are forced to stay on paths. Environmentalists call this “protecting nature by keeping people on paths.” They believe this is important in contributing to help protect our delicate ecosystems.

Clearly the best course of action is to stay on paths and avoid coming into contact with poison ivy. Wear long sleeves and long pants tucked into your hiking boots when out in nature, wear leather gloves, avoid inhaling smoke from an outdoor fire if you suspect poison ivy may be in the area and wear a barrier cream.

If you do come into contact with poison ivy, however, in keeping with our goal of safety, I have included treatment techniques to help ease and relief you of the symptoms of poison ivy.

• If you believe you have inhaled smoke from burning poison ivy, see a doctor immediately. The allergic reaction can be very serious.
• If you come into contact with poison ivy, wash the area as soon as possible with lots and lots of cool water. The sooner you wash and the more water you use, the less likely you will be getting a rash.
• If you do develop a rash, apply calamine lotion to the rash or rub the rash with an ice cube. These remedies may or may not work, but they certainly are worth a try since they will not harm you.
• If the rash covers more than 20 percent of your body, or develops in sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth or genitals, see a doctor immediately. Physicians can prescribe steroids in either cream form or by injections that may decrease the allergic reaction. Extremely sensitive people may have to be hospitalized.

Summer is all about being outside and having fun. But we must always keep our safety in mind. Follow these guidelines and make this information a part of your knowledge bank; hopefully avoiding having to deal with the repercussions of an outbreak of poison ivy.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford