We like to spend our free time in nature, to breathe fresh air and to enjoy the fresh greenery around us. But keep your eyes peeled for the geese in the vegetation. Although they seem harmless, some, such as ticks and mosquitoes, can cause serious health problems. While ticks can transmit Lyme disease, mosquitoes can be transmitters of West Nile virus, both serious conditions. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a few precautions.
“When you go out on the green grass, wear an outfit with long pants and sleeves and wear socks so that the insects do not reach the skin. Once you get home, examine each part of your body carefully. It should be known that an infected tick can transmit, in turn, the infection only if it remains stuck in the skin for more than 24 hours “, explained Prof. Dr. Emanoil Ceauşu, infectionist at the” Victor Babeş “Hospital.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to follow these tips:
- after a hike, wash clothes immediately with hot water;
- if you have a yard, don’t let the grass grow too much;
- wear colorful clothes so you can immediately detect a tick;
- tie your hair in a ponytail;
- carefully monitor pets for ticks;
- do not store firewood near the house;
- do not sit directly on the grass when going on a picnic;
- uses special solutions for grass and vegetation in the yard.
And in the case of mosquitoes there are some rules that are good to follow:
- avoid clothing in bright colors, because mosquitoes partially identify us by contrasting colors;
- he wears long-sleeved clothes and long trousers;
- avoid perfumes with strong aromas, especially sweet, floral ones, because they attract mosquitoes;
- install mosquito nets on windows, doors, if you sit in the yard, on terraces.
- as mosquitoes are attracted to light, try to keep the lighting outside the house to a minimum;
- avoid outdoor activities as much as possible, in the morning at dawn and in the evening at dusk, when mosquitoes are most active;
- remove areas around the house that fill with water or where water stagnates when it rains and empties rainwater collection containers, such as drums, plastic containers, flower pot plates, buckets, dumpsters, barrels, wheelbarrows, old tires. These are the favorite places for mosquitoes to breed;
- regularly mow shrubs and lawns;
- install a fan on the terrace. Mosquitoes are driven by the wind;
- do not dispose of coffee grounds. Throw it in the garden! It absorbs oxygen from the water and forces mosquito larvae to come to the surface. Thus, mosquitoes do not even mature and sting.
- plant plants and flowers that repel mosquitoes: Lemongrass, marigold, geranium, basil, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, thyme or catnip.
- prepare a natural solution and sprinkle in the garden: 1/3 still beer (of any kind), 1/3 bitter salt called epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) and 1/3 mouthwash (containing alcohol). With this solution you can spray the lawn, the hedge, the yard.
- use insecticide sprays or body lotions when going out in the park or in the woods. You can find them in supermarkets or pharmacies and they cost between 20 and 30 lei.
How to protect yourself from mosquitoes
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