The summer is the time for barbecues, backyard parties, lounging in the backyard or bathing in the pool. It is also the season for insects, normally of the flying variety. Flies and mosquitoes can become everything from mildly annoying to downright dangerous. So what can you do to protect yourself in the garden during the summer?
The first thing to do is start clearing up your backyard before the summer begins. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and it only has to be a half-inch deep. This means that you should keep the gutters free from fallen leaves and other blockages.
Blocked gutters and drains are prime breeding grounds, but so are all items that can hold rainwater. Flower pots, buckets, old tyres and folds in tarpaulins are others.
Drill holes in pots, containers and old tyres; pull tarpaulins tight, upturn boats and canoes and if you have water features, make certain that there are either guppies or goldfish in there as well, because they are famous for feeding on mosquito larvae.
Making a pre-emptive strike on mosquito breeding grounds will radically reduce the number of mosquitoes in your backyard and thus reduce your liklihood of being given West Nile virus (in the USA). It will also safeguard you against E.coli.
However, your neighbours may not be as particular as yourself, so mosquitoes will still come into your backyard. To protect yourself from these spray insect repellent containing DEET (25% +) on your clothes and exposed skin to avoid mosquito bites.
In the twilight, hang a bug zapper with a blue light and an electrified coil in the environs of where you are sitting. The best ones also use pheromones to lure mosquitoes, especially octenol.
Some species of mosquitoes hang around animals, so put some natural mosquito repellent on your dogs or do not allow them to lie at your feet.
Do not use DEET on them because they will lick it off and become sick. Use citronella oil, lemon oil or garlic. There are lots of others as well, but they are not as effective or as long-lasting as DEET.
If you are cooking, and who would not be, be careful of meat, especially chicken and pork. If the meat is frozen, thaw it gradually and keep it in the fridge until minutes before you are going to cook it.
The risk zone is between 40-140F, when bacteria will grow very quickly and flies will lay eggs in it. If you have to store the meat out of the fridge, store it 'under water', that is, in a marinade, so that flies can not get at it and it is out of direct sunlight.
Keep food and drinks apart, so that the fridge is not opened so frequently as to permit the temperature to increase above 40F. Use two sets of kitchen utensils, one to handle uncooked meat and fish and one to take cooked meat and fish off the flames otherwise you will contaminate the cooked food.
Use a meat thermometer to check that the foodstuff is cooked: 160F for meat and 165F for chicken. Throw away cooked food not eaten after two hours or after one hour if the background temperature is over 90F. If you would like to use marinade up on cooked food, boil it first.
The first thing to do is start clearing up your backyard before the summer begins. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and it only has to be a half-inch deep. This means that you should keep the gutters free from fallen leaves and other blockages.
Blocked gutters and drains are prime breeding grounds, but so are all items that can hold rainwater. Flower pots, buckets, old tyres and folds in tarpaulins are others.
Drill holes in pots, containers and old tyres; pull tarpaulins tight, upturn boats and canoes and if you have water features, make certain that there are either guppies or goldfish in there as well, because they are famous for feeding on mosquito larvae.
Making a pre-emptive strike on mosquito breeding grounds will radically reduce the number of mosquitoes in your backyard and thus reduce your liklihood of being given West Nile virus (in the USA). It will also safeguard you against E.coli.
However, your neighbours may not be as particular as yourself, so mosquitoes will still come into your backyard. To protect yourself from these spray insect repellent containing DEET (25% +) on your clothes and exposed skin to avoid mosquito bites.
In the twilight, hang a bug zapper with a blue light and an electrified coil in the environs of where you are sitting. The best ones also use pheromones to lure mosquitoes, especially octenol.
Some species of mosquitoes hang around animals, so put some natural mosquito repellent on your dogs or do not allow them to lie at your feet.
Do not use DEET on them because they will lick it off and become sick. Use citronella oil, lemon oil or garlic. There are lots of others as well, but they are not as effective or as long-lasting as DEET.
If you are cooking, and who would not be, be careful of meat, especially chicken and pork. If the meat is frozen, thaw it gradually and keep it in the fridge until minutes before you are going to cook it.
The risk zone is between 40-140F, when bacteria will grow very quickly and flies will lay eggs in it. If you have to store the meat out of the fridge, store it 'under water', that is, in a marinade, so that flies can not get at it and it is out of direct sunlight.
Keep food and drinks apart, so that the fridge is not opened so frequently as to permit the temperature to increase above 40F. Use two sets of kitchen utensils, one to handle uncooked meat and fish and one to take cooked meat and fish off the flames otherwise you will contaminate the cooked food.
Use a meat thermometer to check that the foodstuff is cooked: 160F for meat and 165F for chicken. Throw away cooked food not eaten after two hours or after one hour if the background temperature is over 90F. If you would like to use marinade up on cooked food, boil it first.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on several subjects, but is currently involved with the anopheles mosquito. If you would like to know more just go to our website at Mosquito Bite Swellings.
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