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Summer Heat
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Summer brings to mind many memories of vacations, barbecues, swimming, and baseball games. People spend time outside mowing lawns, gardening, and doing many other outdoor activities during the summer months. Many hours of sun and warmth bring people out of their homes to work and play. It is a very active and fun filled season, but summer can have negative affects as well, if one is not careful. When it comes to summer heat, there is such a thing as having too much of a good thing.

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Temperatures can rise beyond comfortable levels for days, and sometimes weeks. Humidity can be oppressive, making it feel hotter than it actually is. The once glorious summer season soon becomes unbearable, making every outdoor activity a chore. Shade trees and a summer breeze become welcome treasures. Many people retreat to the comforts of their air conditioners and fans. But these may only be temporary should brown outs occur (loss of electricity due to electricity needs being greater than what a power company can supply, often times due to many people using air conditioning units simultaneously on top of regular electricity usage in the area). The fact remains that the heat cannot be avoided totally. If one does not take proper precautions during these sweltering conditions, the result could be serious, even deadly.

Each year, an average of 175 Americans lose their lives due to their bodies not being able to compensate for the tolls that excessive heat and humidity take on their bodies. This does not include the casualties in which heat accelerated the symptoms of disorders already present. Because this has become such a serious problem, the National Weather Service has devised a system to calculate how hot it really feels when air temperature is combined with humidity. It is called the Heat Index. Using this system gives weather forecasters a way to warn people of dangerously high heat levels.

There are various heat related illnesses/injuries that people need to be aware of so that they may 1) try to prevent them from occurring, 2) watch for signs and symptoms when individuals are exposed to extreme heat levels, and 3) know how to treat these illnesses/injuries should they occur. These illnesses/injuries include sun burn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

To function properly, the body must maintain a core temperature of 98.6 degrees. The body's natural response to a deviation from this is perspiration to cool the body, should it get to warm, and shivering, should it get too cold. When it is very hot and humid, the body's natural defense is to sweat profusely (The release of water by the body onto its surface, which cools the body as it evaporates.). When this happens, an individual loses not only water, but also sodium. If this goes on for long enough without replenishing the fluids and electrolytes lost during perspiration, the body will become dehydrated, and the individual may start having symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. Should a person also suffer from a sunburn, these reactions could manifest more quickly, due to the skin's decreased ability to regulate the body's heat.

Summer's Insects: Bees, Mosquitoes, and Ants

Tips on Avoiding Warm Weather Pests

Summer means a variety of things; hot days, barbeques with friends and family, and lazy afternoons in the pool. The warm weather also means you have to watch out for those pesky little bugs roaming around your yard, especially if you are allergic to insect bites.

There really is nothing you can do to completely avoid these insects, but you can lower the number of them that congregate around your home and yard in the summer.

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Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are a common summer pest, and people spend money each year trying different products to rid themselves of this problem. Not only are mosquito bites itchy and annoying, this insect carries the threat of West Nile virus.

Mosquitoes are numerous around dusk and linger into the nighttime hours. Avoid being outside during these times if you can. If you want to be outside during this time, make sure you wear long sleeves and long pants to avoid showing skin. Don't forget your insect repellant.

It is a good idea to keep your property free of standing water; this is where mosquitoes breed and flourish. Keep swimming pools covered when not in use and keep the water moving. If you have areas in your lawn that dip and hold water after a rainstorm, you might want to consider getting the dips filled in so your yard is level. This will lower the amount of standing water near your home.

Ants

Black ants can be annoying, but fire ants can be down right nasty. When it comes to dealing with blacks ants, they really aren't a worry unless they make their way into your home.

Fire ants, on the other hand, are a big worry. For the most part, these are only found in the southeastern states in the United States. The bite from a fire ant is known to cause allergic reactions in some people.

If you find fire ants on your property, there are a number of things you should do. Your very first move should be getting rid of them. This may not be easy, and you may require professional assistance. Be careful if you choose to try this on your own. Poisons left around your property will be accessible to pets and wild animals, even though you are targeting the fire ants.

While you are waiting to see if the ants have been successfully removed from your property, protect yourself, your family, and your guests. Warn everyone that fire ants have been found on your property, and let them know how to avoid them.

Wear protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible while outside, and keep sting remedies on hand. If you or someone in your family is allergic to fire ant bites, get advice from your doctor as soon as possible.

Bees

If you are allergic to bee stings (or any other insect) you should carry and epinephrine kit with you at all times. Even more importantly, you should know how to use it. Everyone in your family should be familiar with how to administer a dose in the case that you cannot do it for yourself.

To avoid bees and wasps, avoid hanging out near their hives or near a flower garden. If you are allergic to bee stings, you may want to rethink having that flower garden, or at least hire someone else to tend to it for you.

Be careful when wearing flip-flops or running around barefoot. You should avoid bright, busy colors and perfumes, because these may attract bees. Insect repellant will work for other insects, but will not keep away bees.

Keep foods covered when eating outdoors and keep your garbage cans closes tightly. Also remember that just avoiding a bee helps to avoid a sting. Bees and wasps will generally leave you alone if you don't bother them.

If you find wasp or bee hives on your house or on your property, hire someone to remove them for you. It's usually not a good idea to try to remove them on your own. Look around your home, under eaves and other nooks, to find where they may be nesting.

Final Thoughts

Unless you are allergic, these pests will be nothing more than a nuisance, but it doesn't mean you have to put up with high numbers of them buzzing around you. If you are allergic, talk to your doctor about avoidance, and ask for tips on how to stay safe without completely limiting your life.

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