Your yard can be a hot bed of insects and poisonous plants your kids need to avoid.
Nothing can take the fun out of a summer day faster than a nasty bug bite or sting.
So here are some tips on how to treat them quickly and what danger signs to look for.
Mosquito bites are a major summer annoyance, and the red itching bites can turn summer fun into suffering. For children, use an insect repellent with a concentration of deet between 10 and 30 percent, nothing higher.
Avoid sunscreen/insect repellent combos because they may not be as effective as two separate products, and you will have to reapply often. While mosquitos may be annoying, ticks can pose a real health hazard, because of the threat of lyme disease.
Remove a tick as quickly as possible with a pair of tweezers, and if you see the telltale bullseye mark, see a doctor immediately.
For bee stings, remove the stinger as soon as possible, wash the area and apply ice. Then, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain.
Most people will have only a localized reaction to a bee sting. But watch for an allergic reaction. Hives, swelling, dizziness and nausea all can be signs of a bee sting allergy and requires emergency medical attention.
Bee allergies are generally hereditary, so an allergic parent should watch their child.
If a severe reaction occurs, an allergist should be seen as soon as possible. Future stings could result in reactions that are up to 60 percent worse than the first allergic reaction.
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