For most families, summer means outside activities where sun and fun often mix with some unwelcome participants -insects and ticks. The proper use of insect repellents can help to make your summer healthier and more enjoyable. Here are some tips provided by the nation`s insect repellent manufacturers on how and why to safely use insect repellents.
Common summer pests like flies, mosquitos and ticks can cause more serious problems than the annoying, itching bites most people experience.
They can also carry diseases including Lyme disease, encephalitis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other serious illnesses. And while scratching an insect bite may make it feel better, it can also cause an open sore that can become infected. Insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide)
help to prevent bites from insects and ticks that may carry these serious diseases.
Various forms and concentrations of insect repellent products are available. Consumers should select the product best suited for their activity and location. Aerosol and pump spray products are generally preferred for treating clothing, as well as for skin applications.
Liquid, cream, lotion and stick products may be used for more precise skin application.
Lower concentration DEET products are appropriate for most situations where insect exposure is minimal. Higher concentration products give increased protection which may be particularly useful in highly infested areas or to those individuals more prone to insect bites.
In addition, some species of insects and ticks are more difficult to repel and may require a higher concentration product for effectiveness. Higher concentrations also provide longer-lasting protection for lengthy exposure periods where reapplication may be inconvenient or impractical.
According to Dr. Durland Fish, associate professor of community and preventive medicine at the New York Medical College and director of the Lyme Disease Center, ”Skin application of an effective insect repellent is essential to minimize the possibility of acquiring bites from the deer tick. The scientific literature documents that DEET is the most effective insect repellent approved for skin application.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates insect repellents. The agency registers products it has determined are effective and pose no adverse health risks to people when used as directed according to label instructions. The EPA recommends the following precautions when using insect repellents:
– Apply only to exposed skin and/or clothing as directed on the product label. – Do not use under clothing.
– Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
– Do not apply to eyes and mouth or to the hands of young children.
– Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Frequent reapplication and saturation is unnecessary for effectiveness.
– After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days.
If you suspect you or your child are reacting to an insect repellent, wash treated skin and then call your local poison control center. If you go to the doctor, take the insect repellent with you. The EPA also recommends that consumers: use only those products bearing an EPA-approved label, read the entire product label before using the repellent, follow product directions carefully, and always keep the container out of reach of small children.
DEET was developed and patented by the U.S. Army in 1956 and was registered for use by the general public in 1957.
