Tag Archives: bites

General Safety Issues

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT RABIES?

To most of us, the thought of rabies is very frightening; however, we probably don’t anticipate that it could happen to anyone we know.  Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.  Most of the rabies cases that are reported to the Centers for Disease Control each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats.   The central nervous system is infected by the rabies virus, ultimately causing disease in the brain, and death.  Early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of several other illnesses, including headache, fever, and general weakness or discomfort.  As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include anxiety, insomnia, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, increase in saliva, difficulty in swallowing, hydrophobia (fear of water).  Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.  

Wednesday, September 28th, marks the fifth annual World Rabies Day, an international event created to help raise rabies awareness and save lives.  Although major efforts to eradicate the virus have been made, rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing more than 55,000 people every year, mainly in Africa and Asia.  (This is at the rate of one person every ten minutes).  In the U.S., one to two people die annually from the virus.  In 2010, more than 6,000 U.S. cases of rabies in animals were reported, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

This is a very serious disease that mainly affects wild animals, as stated before.  Signs of rabid behavior are foaming at the mouth (mad form), and in livestock (down form), in which they appear very lethargic.  There are more and more wild animals, such as foxes and coyotes that are moving nearer to populated areas in order to obtain food and water.  Our domestic pets should be vaccinated against rabies in case they become exposed to wildlife.  We should be vigilant about not putting our pets in situations that would bring them in contact with other animals. 

Many things that you can do to protect your pets include:

  • Take your pet to your vet on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs.
  • Maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and dogs under close supervision.
  • Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for, or vaccinated regularly.
  • Call animal control to remove all stray animals from your neighborhood, in case these animals are unvaccinated or sick. 

Wildlife are more likely than domestic animals in the U.S. to carry rabies; however, the amount of human contact with domestic animals greatly exceeds the amount of contact with wildlife.  If your pet is infected when bitten by rabid wild animals, the risk to humans is increased.  Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care, so call your doctor immediately.   Should your animal be bitten by any wild animal, call the vet immediately, so your pet can be revaccinated and monitored.   Animal control should find the sick animal and hold it for observation, if possible.  Cleanse the area of the bite on a person with soap and water as soon as possible.  Newer vaccines today cause fewer adverse reactions than in the past.  Persons should renew their tetanus shot every ten years. 

If you notice a nocturnal animal staggering around during the day, (such as a skunk), chances are the animal is sick.  Call animal control so they can trap it and determine if it is rabid.  Be a responsible pet owner, and keep your animals safe by getting their shots on a regular schedule.  You’ll not only be protecting them, but the persons they are around, as well.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

DO THE SMALL THINGS IN LIFE “BUG” YOU?

There are many things about life that get under our skin.  Sometimes we just have to cope with them, and do the best we can.  Little things, irritants that just “bug” the heck out of you. It may be a co-worker, spouse, child, or even a stranger making a certain remark that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up!  Well, we have to carry on and rise above these types of annoyances.  These are better known as from the “human species.”  Now, let’s talk about the real nuisances – insects! 

It seems the warm weather brings out the little critters that have been hibernating during the winter.  Sometimes, they don’t make it through the freezing winters, but other times, somehow, enough of them do, in order to carry on their tradition of making life miserable for us.  If you know what they are and the hazards they bring with them, it may make it easier for you to deal with them this summer.  I have listed some of the worst summer bugs for you to watch for: 

  • Bees.  Yellow jackets and bees are especially threatening to persons with allergies.  Bee stings can prove fatal if not treated in a timely manner.  They thrive in all parts of the country, making hives from overhangs around your home.  These hives can grow very large in size, increasing the likelihood of stings.  Sometimes it is necessary to call a professional to get rid of the hives, because when they are disrupted, the entire swarm may come out swinging (or stinging)!
  • Mosquitoes. Oh, joy, it’s time for mosquitoes.  Not only is their little “buzz”  irritating, but the bites they make are, too.  Their bites cause itching, redness and other physical discomforts.  Most often they are found in and around standing pools of water, where they lay their eggs in the summer.  They like humid areas, but live in almost every part of the U.S.  Mosquitoes carry disease, so it is best to decrease the amount of standing water in your yard, and wear long sleeves and use protective bug spray.
  • Cockroaches. Yuk! These are some of the nastiest bugs , but they love to invade your home. Too much heat outside drives them indoors causing them to seek out moist areas of your home.  I’ve seen reality shows where cockroaches were attracted to the glue that is used to put mobile homes walls together, and they were rampant.  Large groups of cockroaches can cause breathing problems for persons with respiratory illnesses.  The best policy is to have regular pest control treatments in your home to get rid of these bugs and keep them out.
  • Termites. Our home fell victim to the little monsters several years ago.  They didn’t particularly like us, but they loved the wood in our attic.  Luckily, we found out before the damage was too extensive, because they can literally eat your home up.  Call your termite control to do an inspection, as it can be very expensive to repair the damage they cause.
  • Ticks.  Ticks also carry disease.  If you find a tick on yourself, or your dog, remove it by pulling steadily and firmly.  Use fine-tipped tweezers, as close to the skin as possible, and pull slowly.  Wash the area and apply antiseptic or antibiotic ointment.  Watch area for infection, and see a doctor if you see signs of a rash in that area.  Be sure to use an insect repellent on yourself before going out of doors; use one that is approved for animals, as well.  Check your pet for ticks often.
  • Fire Ants.  These tiny little ants build huge mounds, and do a lot of property damage. They get into water systems, eat their little hearts out on electric wiring, and have been known to even kill small animals.  And, their stings are like fire, hence the name! 

Here’s some tips that might help you before you go on that next outing:

  • Protect yourself with a light-colored long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a hat.  Don’t wear perfume or scented lotions.  Brightly colored clothing may look like flower colors and attract insects.
  • Stay out of tall underbrush when hiking.
  • If you are having a picnic, don’t leave open cans of sugary drinks unattended, as yellow jackets love to find a warm drink sitting in the sun.  Check your food and drinks before consumption.  Stings inside the mouth and throat are dangerous because of the potential of swelling and closing off the windpipes.  This is a good warning to parents of small children, who often leave their drinks on the picnic table and run off to play – try taking lids!  Take partially empty cans or cups and rinse them out at a faucet.  Don’t throw the leftover liquid in the grass. 
  • When you are cleaning up after your outing, wrap up all the trash and place in a sealed trashbag; if you throw it all loose into a trash bin, it’s an open invitation to yellow jackets or bees to come on in.  Then, the next person may get stung when they open the trash bin. 

Remember, these little pests were created for a reason.  While we stay in our nice, warm homes during the winter, they are out there somewhere hiding in cold, dark spaces in trees and other shelters.  When we come out for the summer months, we are moving into their territory, so in a way, we are the ones doing the invading!  Regardless of being the aggressor, however, we have the right to protect ourselves ……with the insect repellent, yard spray, allergy medication, first aid kit, and even fly swatters!  Go out there and have fun, just be ready for combat.

First Aid Safety, Uncategorized

BED BUGS……THEY’RE BAAAAACK!

We have told our kids “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite,” and really never given it a thought.  I’ve never even seen a bed bug, so I’ve had to do a little research about these critters.  When news headlines are about the infestation of bed bugs, it’s bad, but not as bad as being taken over by aliens from outer space. 

New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Chicago are listed as the Top Five bed bug-infested cities in the United States, according to Terminix, based on volume of calls they have received throughout the country so far this year.  We have seen it on the news in our area of Texas, and read reports that these bugs are rampant all over the United States. 

How has this happened? Well, it’s actually pretty easy, on the part of the bugs.  Seems they really like to travel.  More people are traveling all over the world, and don’t realize that they may be giving the bugs a free ride back to the States, and to their own homes.  Then they also may be furnishing transportation to them to their office, church, library, or elsewhere.  Cleanliness (or lack of it) is not the cause of bed bugs.  Many people hesitate to call professional pest control because they are embarrassed.  These tiny bugs are attracted to human bodies and act as small vampires, feeding on their blood!  The bites they may leave are more harmless than mosquito bites.  Most of the time, the worst thing that could happen is infection from scratching the bite.  (You might want to keep some benadryl or antihistimine on hand in case of an allergic reaction.)

When you are traveling, don’t put your suitcases on the floor, but on a luggage rack.  Bed bugs can hide in furniture, cracks and crevices, clothing, and they love traveling by ship, plane, or rail cabins, or staying in the nicest five-star hotels.  They also live in dormitories, summer camps, apartment buildings, hospitals, and movie theaters.  Tiny little critters, bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed.  When checking your bedding, you may see their droppings, which are roughly the size of a flake of black pepper.  

When you return from a trip, try to unpack your belongings in the garage and place them in a plastic bag, until you can inspect them.  Washing laundry (especially bedding) in hot water and drying it in a hot dryer will kill bed bugs.  Don’t try to eradicate them with do-it-yourself sprays, as it may just encourage them to move on to your neighbors’ house or apartment, rather than get rid of them.  You’d be getting rid of them, but at someone else’s expense.  These bugs are not interested in living in unsanitary conditions, they just want to be where we humans are.  

Keep your eye out for these invasive reddish-brown little bugs.  Seek professional pest-control help.  Then you can “sleep tight, knowing they’re not there to bite!”

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

HERE’S THE BUZZ ON THOSE SUMMER PESTS!

Well, we’re here in the latter part of July, and still have lots of warm days ahead of us before there’s relief from the heat and those little critters that make summer oh, so much fun!  If you work outdoors or plan any kind of outside recreation, it’s important to be prepared before the mosquitoes land to do their vampire act on you.  

In addition to mosquitoes, bees and wasps are always unwelcome guests at your picnic table. Their beverage of choice is any sugary drink that is left unopened; be aware that they might just crawl right inside the soda can and be waiting for an unsuspecting person to pick it up and take a drink.  Bees are attracted to bright colors, too.  Wear light colors and don’t load up on perfume, as they are infatuated by the latest fragrances, too.  

Mosquitoes use standing water as a breeding ground, so be sure to check out any containers that collect water at least once a week.  Many bug repellents work longer if they contain high concentrations of their formulas.  

Don’t get ticked off this summer!  If you are in tall grass, and wildflower areas, you may attract ticks.  They just might latch onto your dog, too.   It’s best to spray your clothes with an insect repellent before you take that hike. Ticks have been known to carry Lyme Disease, so be sure to remove them from yourself or your dog, using disposable gloves.  Be sure to have a flea/tick collar on your animals this summer.  Chiggers are small little pests that can really make your skin itch, but repellents should take care of them, as well. 

Always keep a first aid kit  handy in case of bites and stings, and be sure you have some Benadryl in case of an allergic reaction.  There are many types of personal protection towelettes that help protect you.   Remember to use lots of sunscreen, wear a hat, and sunglasses that block out UV rays.    It helps if you know what poison ivy, sumac, and oak look like, so you can avoid them. 

Even though it may seem trivial, these tiny insects and poisonous plants can make you miserable.  Take the necessary precautions to avoid them.