A few simple measures provide protection but can not eliminate all risk.
- Wear light colored clothing, long sleeves and pants tucked into boots.
- Deet can be applied directly to the skin. Lasts 3-4 hours.
- Permethrin based products can be applied to clothing and boots. Protection lasts several days. Recommendation is from the CDC (Centers For Disease Control), however I do not recommend its use. The decision is yours, but I caution you the side effects are serious.
- At least once a day check all parts of the body for ticks; in children especially, check their hair.
In Lyme disease, infection rarely occurs before the tick has been attached 36 hours.
Removal of ticks:
1. Wash hands. Take a clean pair of fine tipped tweezers, grasp the body.
2. Pull straight up. No twisting. If part of the tick remains, remove with tweezers. Save for identification, if you choose. Wash hands.
3. Do not squash, crush or puncture the tick body, as disease can be present in the fluids.
4. Cleanse area with iodine, alcohol or just plain soap and water.
Relax, chances are the tick was not infected.
If symptoms are present seek the care of a medical professional.
Since the disease is bacterial, antibiotics will probably be prescribed.
Symptoms:
fever
headache
fatigue
skin rash
Symptoms may appear within hours or take days. In some cases symptoms may not appear, or appear so long after the bite that it does not seem to be relevant or is simply forgotten when you go to the doctor. Be sure the professional knows you suffered a tick bite, let them decide if it is relevant.
This information is provided for informational purposes only. It is not a replacement for treatment or diagnosis from a trained medical professional.
]]>
Backpacking Champion
Betsy
It is about time you met my pound pooch, Betsy. Took the picture today on a friend’s camera, then the challenge was uploading it. She went home, e-mailed it to me and somehow before I had go to sleep, I figured it out. Sorry not to have pictures of our weekend excursion, just lots of pictures of Betsy’s “adjustment period”. We won’t discuss here, how she was run out of Virginia and ended up in a shelter in New Jersey. No, we wouldn’t want to embarrass her. She’s a good hiker, with the help of a muzzle she has learned not to put out the call to the pack, but she hasn’t gotten used to her backpack yet. My guess is she’s at least part beagle, if not all. She has been a challenging experience for me, my former hikers had all been lab mixes.
Anyway, we had a great time in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey over the weekend. Weird things have been happening with the theme, I am not sure why ” State by State Trailguide” is plastered all over but keep clicking and you will find one that takes you there. I’ve been trying out individual state subpages to make it easier for you.
Product recommendations are moving slowly along. That and the trailguide have kept me from the vegetarian recipes I promised. By the way, my name is Susan and someday I will figure out how the get the posts to reflect that instead of admin.
]]>- All snakes are not venomous
- Sometimes the snake delivers a dry bite
- All snakebites are potentially dangerous.
If bitten:
1. Snakes often stay within 20 feet from site bite. Keep yourself and the victim protected from another bite. Identification of snakes can be difficult. A few miles away,in another season or a different gender may cause the snake to appear different. Identification is less important than your safety. In the United States most antivenom is combination of venoms of poisoness snakes from that area.
2. Once safety is insured, clean area with soap and water, iodine or alcohol. Look for symptoms. Please note sometimes these do not start for four or more hours. Examine the wound for dirt or broken teeth. Remove anything which may constrict an area if swelling happens (rings, watches, shoes, etc).
3. If by chance, the snake has been identified as non venomous you will still need a tetanus shot if your booster is more than five years old. Puncture wounds can be serious.
4. If the snake has been identified as venomous or you just do not know you should seek emergency medical treatment now. Never assume because of lack of symptoms that you do not need treatment, symptoms may be delayed several hours.
Venomous reactions fall into four catagories:
* Local tissue damage.
* Internal bleeding.
* Nervous system reactions.
* Cardiac symptoms.
A list of do NOTS supported by medical literature:
- Do NOT cut and suck. Cutting into the bite site can damage underlying organs, increase the risk of infection, and does not result in venom removal.
- Do NOT use ice. Ice does not deactivate the venom and can cause frostbite.
- Do NOT drink alcohol. Alcohol may deaden the pain, but it also makes the local blood vessels bigger, which can increase venom absorption.
- Do NOT use tourniquets or constriction bands. These have not been proven effective, may cause increased tissue damage, and could cost the victim a limb.
This information, easily obtainable on the internet, is provided as a guide. It is for information purposes only and does not intend to contradict or replace information provided by trained medical personnel.
]]>Excalibur 2400 4 Tray Food Dehydrator – Black
FoodSaver® V2440 Advanced Design™ Vacuum Sealer Kit 16 ¾” x 9 ¾” x 4 ½”
Basic, no real surprises.
Video by: russellweekendadventurer.com
]]>
FoodSaver® V2440 Advanced Design™ Vacuum Sealer Kit 16 ¾” x 9 ¾” x 4 ½”
Excalibur 2400 4 Tray Food Dehydrator – Black
Video by: russellweekendadventurer.com
]]>