Over the past few years they have developed from a nuisance into a real public health danger. These pests spread dangerous diseases such as the West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis as well as malaria and yellow fever. It is more important than ever to protect your family from such bites and learn how to get rid of them.

While it may not be possible to completely eliminate the mosquito problem, there are many things you can do to greatly minimize the threat. Some of these things involve changing the surrounding area to be less habitable for the little buggers and some involve temporary measures to keep them away for a short period of time.

What Can You Do?

Remove stagnant water

One of the easiest and most effective things you can do is to remove any standing water outside your house. This includes flower pots, buckets, pails, wheel barrows and bird feeders that may be filled with rain water. This standing water is a breeding ground for them and you will never be rid until you can eliminate this factor. Empty water out of these containers on a regular basis, maybe even make a hole in the bottom so that they cannot hold water.

Cut Down Overgrown Areas

Another step you can take is to eliminate as much brush and tall grass as you can. They love to hide in grassy, overgrown areas and if you can keep the lawn cut short and clear out any unwanted brush on your property it will really help cut down on the mozzy problem.

Plant Natural Repellants

There are several types of plants that naturally repel mozzies. Some of these are horsemint, marigolds, catnip and rosemary. You can also use lemon eucalyptus oil as an effective repellent.

Use DEET Spray

The next step to take is chemical warfare. There are several types of lawn treatments that you can spray on your lawn which contain DEET. These are fairly effective at keeping these biting insects away from your property for up to 2 weeks at a time. Other chemical treatments can not only act as a  repellent, but actually kill any larvae that are waiting to be hatched. However it is advised to use with caution

Invest In A ‘MosquitoMagnet’

Other repellent products such as citronella candles and any burning/smoking products have such a limited radius that they are not that effective. One device that does have some effectiveness is the “mosquito magnet” type of device. These machines use propane gas to produce carbon dioxide which attracts mozzies. They are then trapped in a net inside the device where they die of dehydration. Some of these devices can attract mosquitoes from up to a whole acre away. One drawback to using these devices is that when they break down you will need to spend additional money on  replacement parts such as CO2 cartridges, trap netting, thermistors and of course you have to have a supply of propane gas too.

Repellent that you wear on your skin is also somewhat effective. Products that contain DEET are most effective, while some people swear that Avon’s Skin So Soft works just as well with DEET. You should wear long sleeves and pants to minimize the amount of exposed skin.

It is my hope that this essay has shown you how to get rid of mosquitoes. As you can see, there are several steps you can take to minimize the threat. It takes a multi-layered approach to achieve real effectiveness. You can’t just perform one of these steps. To achieve real results you need to do as many of them as you can. If you do all of these things you will have a much better chance at enjoying your outdoor activities without worrying about itchy bites and allergic reactions.

How to get rid of mosquitoes
Learn how to get rid of mosquitoes

By Mike Francis

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Selous Riverside Camp on the banks of the Rufigi river are no different. The walks are relatively short lasting around 1-2 hours and covering no more than a mile or two. Walking safaris are particularly challenging and you can wear trainers or similar comfortable shoes.

But don’t forget to cover your legs and arms and put some insect repellant cream or other mosquito prevention treatment to stop the pesky mites making a meal of you!

You’ll find some tips on mosquito bite prevention here –> Click here

The walking safaris at Selous Riverside start early. We were given a 5am wake up call.30am for a 6am start. Before boarding of safari vehicles there was just time for a quick cup of tea. As Selous Riverside is located outside the Selous National Park, we were also going to walk outside the park. Our destination was around 10-15 minutes away and we were soon on our way, heading through a nearby village and down one of the many side roads where we pulled over.

There was fairly thick vegetation all round us but paths that had been cleared by passing elephants and hippo were clearly visible so we followed these. Our group of 6 walkers was accompanied by an armed ranger and a local tracker. Once the short briefing had finished, we commenced on our walk. The ranger led the way and we all followed in single file with the tracker falling in behind.

Although it was fairly unlikely that we would come across any larger wildlife such as elephants or leopards mainly due to the noise we made, our ranger did tell us that he has seen a large selection of such animals during walks. Insects, plants and birds are the focal point of this type of walking safari. The first item of interest we came across was a termite mound that stood at least 2 metres tall. The ranger explained that although the termite mound looked quite large, two-thirds of the system was underground. When you consider the size of the little creatures who built it, the termite mound is quite an impressive sight.

The one inescapable sound was the almost deafening sound of cicadas which were all around us. Cicada are similar to locusts and if you look carefully, you can see them on the branches of the trees. They go through a 17 year life cycle and are preyed upon by pretty much everything in the wild. We were also shown plants like the Sausage Tree which takes its name from the sausage shaped fruit it produces. However, the fruit is much large than the traditional English breakfast sausage as it grows up to a metre in length and can weigh over 10kg.

The walk lasted for an hour and although it was all too easy to get the feeling it wasn’t much different to a walk in a wood back in England, the occasional tracks we came across gave us a reminder that we were very much in Africa. Once back at the safari vehicle, we were soon on our way to camp for breakfast before heading out on another day on safari in the Selous Game Reserve.

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Backpack for Hiking in The Summer

For day hiking you will need a backpack capable of carrying 1,500-2,000 cubic inches or 25 to 35 liters. Iincrease this total to 2,500 or 3,000 cubic inches (40 to 50 liters) if the trip lasts for two nights.

For hiking that takes three to five nights maximum, the backpack should be able to carry 3,000-4,000 cubic in (50 to 65 liters). The capacity should be 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches or 50 to 65 liters at the minimum if it is for at least five night.

Spring and Fall / Autumn Hiking Backpack

For a day hike, the capacity should be 2,000-2,500 cubic inches (equal to 35-40 liters). If you’ll be camping out for two evenings, the backpack size / capacity should be 3,000 to 3,5000 cubic inches or 50 to 55 liters.

The capacity should be 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches (65 to 80 liters) if you’ll be hiking for a minimum of three nights (maximum five nights). The capacity should be 5,000 cubic ft minimum for a hiking trip that lasts at least five days.

Backpack for Hiking in The Winter

Winter hiking requirements are a bit different. The backpack size of 2,500-3,500 cubic inches (40 to 55 liters) will be ideal for day hiking. If the trip lasts for two nights, increase this total to 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches (65 to 80 liters).

For a 3 to 5 night trip, the size should be 5,000 cubic inches or 80 to 90 liters. The capacity should be 5,000 cubic feet, that’s equal to 50 to 65 liters if the trip lasts for five days minimum.

Types of Backpack

Daypacks are very popular among summer hikers. These are basically small backpacks. Their small size makes them ideal to carry during hot days. When shopping for daypacks, think of the trip duration.

If you’ll be hiking for at least a couple of days, make sure the backpack has enough room for extra clothing. The backpack size for winter hiking needs to be a little bigger. You’ll need thicker clothes.

Backpacks use internal or external frames. The internal frames are more popular nowadays because it provides mobility and balance. This is most suitable for hiking and mountain climbing. However the external backpack is preferred by some as there is space between the backpack and one’s back.

What to Carry

Food, water and clothing are the bare necessities. Make sure to carry the amount of clothing needed; you don’t want to run short, but don’t fill your backpack with stuff you won’t use. Don’t forget to carry medical kits, including nets, creams or lotions to prevent insect bites such as from mosquitos

Having a compass with you is also a good idea. A flashlight, batteries and a cell phone are also essential especially for new hikers.

While manufacturers may use the same backpack size measurements, each has its own nuances. Spend some time trying them to see which one you’re most comfortable with.

looking for some extreme mountain hiking? check this out:
How High is Mount Everest?
How High is Mount Kilimanjaro?

related reading: Travel Bag Dimensions

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Elephants treck through hotel while we were on safari in Africa

My wife and I love Africa and we couldn’t resist the temptation to visit our friends in Africa and visit the continent, when Juliette was nearly two years old we travelled from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania both the mainland and Zanzibar.

We had a marvellous safari and really had no difficulty with finding food for our daughter or cots in the hotels. In fact the whole trip was just perfect. We made sure that we used Mosquito nets , and to cover her with a strong mosquito repellant she wasn’t bitten once in the whole trip.

So if you are thinking of travelling to Africa with your family but are worried whether your children will enjoy the safari and whether they will be safe, we hope you will be encouraged with our personal experiences. Our daughter Juliette has enjoyed safaris from the very earliest age and have friends who have raised their children so the easy answer is yes children do adapt well to the wild but with some conditions.

Children tend to love the wildlife and a safari is usually a wonderful experience for children of all ages. It can get a bit long and hot for children so we have some suggestions for you;

• take with you some animal spotting safari games
• learn the Swahili names for the animals which will help the children build a relationship with your driver and should provide fun.
• Download safari games available from the web at no charge, this will keep them busy. We have a FREE children’s activity pack which you can view or download and print free of charge and includes a safari animal check list with Swahili animal names, plus some other fun stuff.

An amazing experience that we had and would like to mention because it might be useful for other parents travelling with young children while on safari…

We went on a night drive in Zambia in an open vehicle with other guests from the lodge.This was so exciting and turned out to be one of the most amazing we have ever done. We discovered a young leopard where we later found ourselves right in the core of a herd of buffalo that was suddenly being ambushed by four hungry female lions. The lions prey escaped. In all the excitement our daughter began crying, it took seconds for the lions who characteristically think vehicles as just part of the landscape began to think the vehicle as a promising prey, like a small animal in distress. Fortunately our guide acknowledged the change in mood and drove us away quickly to safety with a pack of lions following us.

The food in safari lodges tends to be quite relaxed so no problems here either. There should be no problems keeping children interested in this new and stimulating world where they will face a different way of life and maybe poverty for the first time, but I think the lifestyle of Africa can play an essential part in the education of our sometimes pampered children.

Common sense is if the parents are sensible and make the children abide by the safari rules no danger will come to the children. Certainly the first thing to do is sit down with your children before departure and explain that Africa is a different world from the one they are used to, where there is danger around.

There is no need to overemphasize but camp rules are there for your protection and must be followed, because if they are not, the consequences can be serious. For very young children I propose you pick your camp carefully and make sure your travel advisor knows you are travelling with children so they can find the most suitable for children. We can guide you on this from personal experience as we have been on many safaris with our children. We also have a lot of information for going on safari & travelling in Africa

It is recommended that young children should not be vaccinated and are excused in most countries for yellow fever but truthfully I don’t feel this should be of concern. This is a rare disease which you should not meet in a safari lodge. Your focus of concern should be malaria which is a problem all over the tropics. The local population catch it repeatedly and it is generally deemed no worse than a bout of flu. However depending on the strain, it can be dangerous and the solution here is good prevention. Young children cannot take malaria tablets we advise you to get advice from your doctor. Before the sun goes down make sure that you put insect repellent all over their arms and legs making sure any exposed area is covered then check to make sure they are sleeping under mosquito nets. These safety measures will help you to reduce the risk of malaria to just about zero.

Don’t be scared about taking your children to Africa, it is a wonderful experience for them and we have been back with Juliette many times, but do cover them up well and no safaris in open vehicles for very small children

Note: The above information is advice given on the basis of the author’s experience at the time of writing and the author cannot take responsibility for any traveller choosing to take the advise above. Before travelling you should speak to your GP and take advice from the relevant authorities before travelling.

Technorati Tags: africa, children safaris, children travelling, family safaris, free childrens activity pack, malawi, south africa, Tanzania, travelling information for Africa, zambia, zanzibar, zimbabwe

Safety around creepy crawlies

Simply be prepared and you should be safe from the not-so-monstrous creepies that crawl in the night.

One of the first things to be aware of is the threat of malaria from infected mosquito bites but adequate preparation through starting on a course of medication before, during and after travel should suffice

Mosquitoes – unfortunately many safari parks are in malaria areas. Malarone, antibiotic doxycycline, chloroquine and mefloquine are the four most common medications prescribed against malaria. Chatting to your doctor beforehand will ensure that you get the right medication for both your family and the area to where you are travelling. To be extra safe, bring along  mozzie-repellent shampoos, soaps, lotions and sprays, especially for the kids.

Mosquito bite treatment and natural repellants in addition to medication include Brewer’s Yeast and garlic (the mosquito doesn’t like the smell apparently!) and anti itch lotion with aloe ver

It is also a good idea to invest in a mosquito net to ensure a restful night’s sleep, free from pesky mosquito and other insect bites

Snakes – generally shy creatures, it is unlikely that you will encounter a snake in the built up areas of your safari camp. If you do meet with one, back away quickly and quietly. Bites are usually more painful than fatal, but seek medical attention from a camp medic immediately, just to be safe.

A good idea would be to wear leather boots that go up to the knee… very difficult for a snake to bite through if you stood on one accidentally and caused it to react

Creepies – most game lodges supply nets and window coverings to keep the crawlies at bay, but it is still a good idea to check your shoes before squishing a sleeping scorpion. When going for bush walks, wear long trousers, boots and hiking socks to prevent picking up any hitchhikers.

Ticks – these icky little creatures are an unfortunate side-effect of being in the bush. All conditions that develop from a tick bite are treatable, but it is important to remove the offending bug as soon as possible. Conflicting techniques exist on how to remove a tick, but it is generally considered ill-advised to yank it, suffocate it, or drown it as the head buries itself even further. Rather use tweezers, grasp it at the head, right against your skin and pull straight up to remove the tick in its entirety.

Have you ‘ticked’ that one off the list?

Safety on a game drive

It is very easy to think that just because you are in a Land Rover with a guide and a gun, you are completely safe. Most game drives are relatively risk-free, but only as long as you do your bit and follow the rules.

Listen to your guide – guides are experienced in animal behaviour and will always have a good reason for asking you to do, or not do, something. Asking you to keep quiet could be to prevent an already agitated animal from charging, or disappearing and ruining your photos. Anything as quiet as the click of a camera could set an animal off, so listen if your guide asks you to hold off on a picture.

Keep your hands to yourself – Game drives traverse some pretty wild terrain and you just never know when a branch or a particularly spiky bush could suddenly appear. Keeping your hands and arms inside the vehicle ensures that you don’t get any nasty scratches. This also means that you should you be lucky enough to get close to an animal, you shouldn’t lean out and touch it. Wild animals could react viciously and injure you. Remember, if these animals become too used to humans it will be to their detriment if they later have the confidence to approach a hunter, farmer or built up area.

Stay sitting – any sudden movement could scare an animal, ruining your picture or even prompting an attack. Animals are used to the shape and size of safari game drive vehicles and standing could alter this shape and cause panic.

Safety on a self-drive safari

Common sense should ensure your safety on a self-drive exploration of a game reserve as most of the same rules apply as when you are on the road.

Stay inside the car - You wouldn’t hang out a window while driving in the city? Well, don’t do it while on safari. Keep all your body parts inside the car and never, ever, ever get out the vehicle at any time. If you get a flat tyre, call for help or flag down another car to get help for you. Even though the coast may seem to be clear, bending to change a tyre leaves you vulnerable to attack.

Keep to the speed limits – There are speed limits in any game park – obey them for your safety and the animals.

Don’t feed the animals – You should also not throw rubbish out your windows. Any left over food will naturally attract animals and can have detrimental effects on the environment. Teaching animals to rely on humans for food can turn them into scavengers that can’t fend for themselves and introduces foreign substances into their environment which all contribute to a negative shift in the eco-system.

Don’t be tempted to rev or hoot or flash your lights in an attempt to try and get the animal to do something more interesting. More interesting could end up in your car being charged. If an animal shows any sign of getting agitated, slowly start your car and move off. These signs could include a prolonged stare-off, erratic ear movement, pacing or even a mock charge.

Safety on a game walk or at a lookout point

There are designated places where you can walk in a game reserve or get out your car, but follow these guidelines:

No swimming – it gets hot out there, but a quick dip is not the answer. No matter how inviting the water, it could hide crocs and hippos – and they don’t like to share their pools. The bilharzias parasite is also present in some rivers and can cause bleeding and ulceration of the intestine and bladder.

No feeding the animals – A change in feeding patterns could mean that some animals do not migrate as they would normally do at a certain time of year, adversely affecting food supplies. Different animals that are taught to scavenge can also fight over one food supply that they would not normally share, resulting in injuries and harmful inter-species interactions. Most importantly, wild animals have specialised diets and you have no idea what effect a chocolate bar could have on their bodies.

No touching – do not approach an animal, touch it or call it – the response will not be one that you anticipated.

Do not stray – stay on the path, in the designated watch area or with your guide. Besides getting lost, you may trample endangered plant species or contribute to erosion.

About the author: GoTravel24.com is South Africa’s leading travel website. With information covering every aspect of travel, from honeymoon tips to upcoming events and affordable packages, GoTravel24 is really your one-stop travel shop.

Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory

A Kenya Safari Holiday .

You need to sleep under treated mosquito netting, and the doors and windows should be screened against mosquitos. If you are lucky enough to have a fan or even airconditioning then even better, but just remember malaria prophylaxis 

Masai Mara Safari

And, we had a steward who made up our room during the day, and then when we were on our evening safari, would fix up our tent for the evening. Close all the curtains, take our mosquito nets down, switch the day bedlinens 

Close encounters of the Creature Kind

Ah but our foray with biting insects had only just begun: in the Tanzanian post-rainy-season tropics we entered the land of the Mosquito. The nightly routine, consisted of returning to base before dusk to cover up and apply vast quantities of DEET to any exposed skin before going anywhere. … Instead of reducing my terror of catching the disease (we’d met someone on Safari who’d had it on Malarone, the extremely expensive new drug I was on for extra protection in Africa

USB Mosquito Stick Keeps You Malaria-Free On A Laptop Safari

Using an ultrasonic force field, this USB stick vows to protect you from mosquitoes during all those times when you find yourself using a laptop

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> Mosquito Bite Treatment. Click here

At best, these flying ‘leeches’ are infuriating, drive you insane looking for them as you are trying to get the children off to bed and leave unsightly blotches all over your skin. At worst they are one of the biggest killers of humans to ‘grace’ the planet. There is a whole slew of diseases that can be caused by a mosquito bites, including:

* Malaria * Yellow Fever * Encephalitis * Dengue Fever

All delightful stuff I am sure you agree!

Mosquito facts

Today we are going to learn a little about what makes these things ‘tick’. My youngest girl asked me to ‘Google’ them today actually (the poor little thing is a lure for Mozzies unfortunately.) And most importantly what can you do to defend yourself from these disgusting little vampires!

Mozzie Biology

Mosquitoes are insects that have been cursing animals and more recently, humans for more than 30 million years. And it seems that, our little friends have been very busy evolving and honing their skills of finding people to bite. Mosquitoes have an impressive aray of sensors designed to track their prey, including:

Chemical sensors -

Mosquitoes can sense carbon dioxide and lactic acid up to an unbelievable 36 metres (100 feet) away. Mammals and birds gives off these gases as part of their normal breathing. There are also certain chemicals in sweat that seem to attract mosquitoes (the lucky people who don’t sweat much don’t get nearly as many mosquito bites).

Visual sensors -

If you move around wearing clothing that contrasts with the background mosquitoes can see you, and and get a ‘target lock’ on you. Instinctually, anything moving is considered alive and therefore fair game to have it’s blood siphoned.

Heat sensors

Talk about overkill: Mosquitoes can also detect the heat warm-blooded mammals and birds give off very easily once they are in range.

With all these high-tech sensors these little ’suckers’ (pun intended) sound more like something out of a Terminator movie and without protection we don’t really stand a chance.

Interestingly it is only the female mosquitoes that bite (what is is with females – I bet if we had a Father Nature instead things would be a lot different.) Not unlike human gold-diggers, the female lands on your skin and sticks her proboscis into you (the proboscis is very sharp and thin, so you may not feel it going in). Her saliva contains proteins (anticoagulants) that prevent your blood from clotting.

I bet you didn’t know this – Mosquitoes can actually explode!

Obviously if you notice her and try to squish her, she will fly away. Otherwise, she will remain until she has a full tummy – she has yet another sensor telling her when she is full and it is time to detach. I once had one land on me and when it was sucking away merrily I carefully pinched my skin tightly to her proboscis so that she couldn’t escape. While it left a nasty welt, I had a last laugh as she filled with blood and exploded

After she has bitten you, some saliva remains in the wound. The proteins from the saliva evoke an immune response from your body with the symptoms of the area swelling an being as itchy as h***. The swelling tends to subside quite quickly, but the itchiness will remain until your immune cells break down the proteins in the saliva.

HIV ‘Old Wives Tales’ Exposed

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes AIDS cannot survive inside a mosquito, and therefore thankfully cannot be transmitted from one person to another through mosquito bites.

How to Stop Getting Bitten By Mosquitoes

You can do a few things to reduce the number of mosquito bites that you get while enjoying the outdoors. First, wear clothing that covers most of your body, if temperatures permit – in saying that though I have been bitten through jeans before so nothing is fool-proof here.

Use Mosquito Repellent.

>  Natural mosquito repellant

You can go the route of using the ‘ol Japanese standby – the Katori Senko. You can find these bad boys in almost every drugstore in the land. They are green swirly incense sticks that contains some type of plant- based repellent that purports to keep mosquitoes (and any worthy suitors) at bay. While these might be effective for household use, I like to know what my kids and I are breathing and they are no help once you are outside.

When my girls and I are outside rather than spray ourselves with toxins that eventually work their way to building up in our internal organs I prefer more natural alternatives:

If you are interested in getting the best natural bug repellents, and natural supplement delivered right to your door while saving up to 70% on retail prices I urge you to run to iherb.Com and if you enter this code HAY138 you will get $5 off your first order (on top of the impressive discounts!)

>  Natural mosquito repellant

I have been ordering supplements from iherb.Com for over 5 years now from 3 different countries and I can tell you that their customer service is top notch, their prices unheard of, and shipping is quick and cheap. If you could even find these products in Japan you would likely pay well over full price, fork out money to get the train or fight traffic to get to the store. But with iherb.Com your stuff is only a few clicks and a few days away no matter where you live in Japan or the world.

P.S The best shipping option for Japan is to choose Yamato – they are the ones with the Black Cat on the side of their truck.

P.P.S Feel free to share this code HAY138 with anyone who has never ordered from iHerb before. They will save $5 on their first order as well and a truckload on anything they order from then onwards.

P.P.P.S Guys – believe me you will definitely want to know about the amazing ‘night-time’ benefits of Cordyceps that you can get from iherb too;-)

Author Haydn Stevenson provides you with Free Tips for a more stress-free, funand enriching life in Japan (including the secrets of how he creates income on 100% ‘auto-pilot’ while being a full-time solo dad.) For those starting out living in Japan or are just plain ‘curious’ http://japanfordummies.com shows you this wonderful country through the eyes of an ‘outsider’ who has bumped up against the Good, the Bad and Ugly.. and lived to tell the tale

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Hiking in itself is an excellent way to get a cardiovascular workout which is why you need the right hiking and backpacking gear. You need to take a few supplies and water on your hiking trip. If you have not been hiking before and it has been some time since you were physically active, get a good check from your doctor before commencing any physical activity. Hiking is an enjoyment and the added bonuses are that you keep fit and healthy, while enjoying the scenery.  Nobody wants to plan a hiking trip to somewhere far away and then not be able to enjoy being there because you are not fit enough to take on the task.  Before leaving, start walking to build endurance and make each walk a little longer than the day before.

Many people do not want to plan a trip to a far away place, but rather take some daily trips closer to home.  This is easier to plan and can be done without spending much money.  Even when taking a day trip, be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning.  When your doctor passes you as fit and you have walked around your neighborhood to build up strength, you can think of tackling a day hike.  Plan your first day of hiking on level terrain and set a short distance to travel.  It is okay to vary the time and distance of each trip, once you are comfortable with going farther and walking across more difficult terrain. If you are only considering one day hiking trips you still need to have a hydration pack for hiking.

When you are out hiking, the sounds of Mother Nature are beautiful compared to the sounds of the city and hiking can become very addictive.  Hiking can be therapeutic, because all of the things that stress you on a daily basis will slip away while walking.  Your body feels the difference and the feeling that comes over you is very addictive. It makes your body and mind want more serenity and peace. It allows your body to lower blood pressure and become tuned in to the hike. The enjoyment of hiking maintains your health, while lifting your spirit. So grab your hiking gear backpack and enjoy life.

Technorati Tags: hiking, Hiking and Backpacking Gear, Hiking Equipment, Hiking Gear, Hiking Gear Backpack

After your lovely summer day, you will hopefully be left with wonderful memories. All too often, you’re left with a little more personal reminder of your fun in the sun:  mosquito bites . Mosquito bites are annoying, but typically not serious unless the mosquitoes are carrying a disease that can be transmitted to humans.

>>  Mosquito Bite Treatment. Click here

In the U.S., fortunately, this is rare. So most of the time, you are just dealing with a minor annoyance that can be handled with any number of home remedies for mosquito bites.

The irritation of a mosquito bite is due to a localized allergic reaction to the saliva of the mosquito. Not to put too fine a point on it, you are itching from bug spit. The mosquito has enzymes and chemicals in its saliva that keep your blood from clotting, making it easier for the mosquito to take your blood for its own nefarious purposes. You, however, do get the short end of that stick.

An Ounce of Prevention

The first and best course is to not get bit. The best home remedy for mosquito bites is to keep your home and lawn from becoming places where your local neighborhood mosquito will want to nest and breed. Avoid standing water, for example.

The next best thing is to use a repellent. There are a variety of repellents available, from sprays and lotions, to sunscreens that contain repellents, to sprays and candles for your yard. Some people prefer to avoid these chemicals and seek more natural ways to repel mosquitoes. Ingesting apple cider vinegar, garlic, or taking certain vitamins is said to help repel mosquitoes, but their effectiveness is marginal at best. So, if you are outside and it is summer, you might as well resign yourself to getting bit.

The Pound of Cure

So you’ve done your best to stay away from mosquitoes and make yourself a less appetizing snack. Still, you’ve got a mosquito bite or two.

>>  Mosquito Bite Treatment. Click here

Never fear; there are home remedies you can use to stop the incredibly insistent itching and sooth your skin. One old remedy your author has used is tobacco juice. Tobacco juice will deaden your skin and stop the itching. It will also cause a nasty stain and leave you explaining to your mom or wife just what you were doing with tobacco in the first place, but it does work.

Another traditional home remedy for mosquito bites is baking soda. Just make a paste of it with a bit of water, and put it on the swelling. Salt is another good substance to make a paste from, as well as meat tenderizer. All these have shown a lot of effectiveness. Apple cider vinegar and ammonia are other common substances that will stop the itch from mosquito bites right in their tracks. Toothpaste is a household product that will relieve that itch as well, though you might want to avoid any strongly flavored varieties.

Rawleigh Products was founded in the late 1800s to create a line of “Good Health Products” that possessed both strength and quality. Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com or Call # 1-800-992-1089

Antihistamine

An over the counter antihistamine lotion or gel will reduce the swelling at the site of the bite, reducing the irritation. The histamine is the basic actor of the allergic response and anything that can reduce that will lessen the discomfort.

>>  Mosquito Bite Treatment. Click here

Do not, however, rule out emollient lotions. An ointment with a beeswax base that contains other nutrients like bee pollen will go a long way to soothe the localized irritation of a mosquito bite. Another natural product is also from the bee, propolis. It is a substance used by bees to seal and protect the hive. Its benefits are wide ranging and go well with the other supportive nutrients of several of these natural ointments.

Anyone with an active life will encounter mosquitoes and will invariable get bit from time to time. Home remedies for mosquito bites are a good thing to have readily available on hand as the summer goes along.

Author: Dustinkerry Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_834097_17.html http://www.rawleigh-products.com

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A complete guide for effective ways to control Mosquito bites…

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Mosquitoes have been in existence for more than 400 million years. The tropical climate is a very pleasant climate for the mosquitoes to survive. The female mosquitoes suck blood from your body for their food. The male mosquitoes feed on flower nectar. The female lays hundreds of eggs at a time. After hatching, the mosquito larva can grow to an adult within 10 days.

Mosquitoes are responsible for various diseases like malaria and dengue

If these diseases are not treated properly, they may become fatal. So it becomes essential to prevent these disease carriers from entering your living area. You can control mosquito bites either by restricting the entry of mosquitoes or by killing them.

Stagnant water with moderate summer temperature is favorable for female mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Containers like used bottles, tins, flower pots, garbage cans that hold stagnant water are loved by mosquitoes. You have to ensure that you don’t have stagnant water around your dwelling.

Outdoor Protection
When you have ponds at your outdoor then surely the stagnant water will become a breeding place for mosquitoes. Also when your house is surrounded by thick bushy and marshy woods you have to find some means to control mosquitoes. You can breed mosquito fish, killifish, goldfish or guppies in your pond as they eat mosquito larvae. Frogs and toads are also enemies for mosquitoes.

Indoor Protection
Mosquitoes are present everywhere. You must protect yourself from them by either blocking them from entering your house or killing them as they enter. Many mosquito control products are available in the market and you can use any one of them for your convenience.

Mosquito Sprays
Various mosquito sprays are available in the market that poisons the air sufficient enough to kill the mosquitoes. When you spray these liquids then you can definitely kill all flying mosquitoes. These sprays obviously pollute the air and hence they are dangerous for us too. They don’t cause death of human beings but are dangerous especially for kids to inhale them.

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Mosquito Repellent Ointment and Coils
Mosquito repellent ointments need to be applied to our parts of the body that are uncovered. They are sometimes greasy and not advisable for children. They effectively repel mosquitoes and hence you can escape from their bites. Coils are effective for use in outdoors. Many people use these coils indoor but they don’t kill mosquitoes.

Mosquito Racket Zappers

These rackets are very effective in killing mosquitoes that are flying around you to suck your blood. You have to wave your hands holding these racket zappers and any mosquito that comes in contact with the racket is killed as you press the button to activate the zapper. They use batteries that are rechargeable with some models and replaceable with others.

Electronic Mosquito Killers
These electronic mosquito killers operate in current. They attract the mosquitoes with their ultra violet bulbs and the mosquitoes will be killed as they approach the bulbs surrounded by low voltage grid. They can be used in places that have many mosquitoes.

Mosquito Nets
Mosquito nets are an effective means to protect your small living area. You can cover your bed with hanging nets to prevent mosquitoes from nearing you. These nets are very useful for covering beds where children sleep.

You can also install mosquito nets for your windows and doors to effectively block the entry of mosquitoes. These nets have small holes that are large enough to let the air in and small enough to let the mosquitoes stay out.

Whatever control measures you take you can only control the mosquitoes but you cannot stop their existence. But you must take measures to effectively control mosquitoes in your living area to protect yourself from dangerous diseases.

By Jayashree Pakhare

Here are a selection of posts with more information about mosquito bites which I hope you will find useful

Treatments For Kinds Of Insect Bites

A mosquito bite usually results in redness and minor local swelling around the mosquito bite site. Itching is also very common and tends to last longer than the swelling, which subsides after a few hours.

Treat Mosquito Bite Naturally – Natural Remedies For Mosquito Bite

Given below are some tested and reliable remedies to alleviate the inflammation, pain, and swelling generally, associated with mosquito bite. The usage of melaleuca oil to treat inflammations caused by mosquito bite 

Treatments For Mosquito Bite. What You Can Use At Home?

You can make ice wraps and apply them on the bites. This is one of the most effective mosquito bites treatment you can safely use at home. It helps bring down the swelling on affected skin. This eases irritation and the pain too.

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