Ticks in the west can carry Colorado Fever and Rocky Mountain Spotted
Fever. Ticks are
a threat early in the summer, and after vegetation has grown. They become
rare at the end of summer and into winter. If you are backpacking or hiking
make sure to check yourself several times for ticks. Try and avoid tall
grass and shrubbery areas ticks love to hide there. You should not use
alcohol, nail polish, hot matches, petroleum jelly to remove ticks this can
make the tick bite worse. If you have Benadryl or another
antihistamine, these can control the swelling caused by some insect
bites. If you are bitten by a spider suck as the black widow spider it
will feel like a pin prick You should watch the area for redness and
swelling about an hour after the bite. Bee and wasp stings sometime leave in
the stinger so it needs to be remove carefully. When you are camping or
hiking you should not turn over logs and stones. Spiders like to hide in
these areas and will bite if they feel threaten.
Make sure to look in your boots or shoes before you head out on a
hike. Biting insects can hide in your foot wear. If you do get an insect
bite it usually can be treated on the spot.
Mosquitoes, gnats and flees bites will
not show up immediately so you need to watch the area for any signs of
infection. Tick bites you need to cut off the oxygen to the head of the tick
to remove the tick safely.
When you have been bitten by an insect you should stop all strenuous
activity. Watch for hives and bee's nests around hollow rotted logs and low
lying tree limbs too.
Black Flies have a terrible and nasty insect bite that can itch and
sting, black flies will also swarm over you, they will crawl and wiggle to
get under clothing to get your skin and bite Unfortunately Deet doesn't work
as very good to repel blackflies like it does for mosquitoes
When you are stung by a bee or wasp remove the stinger gently and
do not squeeze it this could release more venom. If available you need to
ice the area of the bite or apple a cold compress. You can use antipruritic
creams that can be applied to the area of the bite and keep it clean. If you
notice that you are having faintness, difficulty breathing and coughing you
could be having a bad reaction to the bite. You need to get to the emergency
room immediately or to the nearest doctor.
Watch for redness and swelling in the area of the insect bite. You
can purchase first aid kits that are compact and fit into your backpack.
Another pest to deal with are mosquitoes. They certainly are just as
irritating and can bite you while camping and backpacking.
Mosquitoes biting insects and bugs are something you have to deal with
when camping or hiking. Mosquitoes can carry diseases like West Nile Fever.
You can use good repellent with DEET in it to keep on your person. Set up
your camp site where there is a strong breeze or not close to water or
ponds. When you are hiking or backpacking you should wear light colored
clothing instead of darker clothing.
You can wear mosquito head nets if you are going to be in an area
with many mosquitoes. A mosquitoes head net is light and will pack away
easily in your backpack. Bees and wasps kill many more people than all the
mammal deaths put together. If you are allergic to bees and wasps, make sure
you have whatever the doctor recommends when you are camping and hiking.
Make sure you seal your cuffs and pant legs tightly with some tape or some
kind of rap.
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