Inflatable Kayak Blog

I like the outdoors. Being outside doing something is much more fun than being inside, anytime … well almost anytime. I seem to be the tasty treat to a biting bug that is within a quarter mile of me. So, we try to keep a can of bug spray in our inflatable kayak kit so it is always handy. I thought it would be of interest of other outdoor folk to be reminded of some ways to avoid bug bites and stings.

As I mentioned, bug spray is one of my best defenses. The thing to remember with sprays is that the higher the percentage of DEET, the active ingredient in most insect repellents, the more hours of protection against mosquitoes, biting flies, chiggers, fleas and ticks. A concentration of 5% to 10% lasts about 90 minutes: 35% concentration protects for about four hours if you aren’t swimming or doing a lot of activities that cause you to sweat.

If you don’t like using DEET based insect repellents, oil of lemon eucalyptus delivers about the same level of mosquito protection for the same length of time as low concentrations of DEET.

Wear loose, light colored clothing. Bees are attracted to bright colors and mosquitoes are attracted to dark hues. And for the person that spends a great deal of time outside you can purchase garments that are pre-treated with insecticide that offer effective protection from biting bugs.

Wear long sleeves and long pants when possible and tuck pants legs into socks or shoes. Wear a hat for extra protection. When camping, be sure to check inside gloves, hats and sleeves and pants before putting them on and always check carefully before crawling into a sleeping bag.

If stung, scrape the stinger in a side-to-side motion with a straight edge object like a credit card. Squeeze out the venom immediately, then wash with soap and water and disinfect with antibiotic ointment. A cold compress or ice on the area can reduce swelling.

Summer is here, so stay protected from biting bugs and have an itch free time outdoors!