Die-hard campers,
fisherpeople, hikers or bikers, and runners all have one thing in common –
insects in late spring and summer! Speed or agility are not necessarily a
winning accomplishment, winging stingers will catch up somehow and then an owie
to remember.
Fragrance free and clad in
light colours is recommended, and many portable repellents are available to
increase protection. Wasp traps, pseudo nests that identify territory, and even
mosquito magnets and defoggers may be seen in use.
A one and only encounter last
August with a yellow jacket was not only aggravating, it became serious. A
secondary leg infection developed, resulting in treatment - the cellulitis
further impacted my recovery.
Once someone has suffered a
frightening reaction of any kind, anxiety can surface quickly when there is
even the tiniest possibility of being stung again. Companions may also be
acutely alert – wide eyed and their own antennae twitching in both apprehension
and anticipation. I once knew of a well-meaning guest whose energetic swatting
bruised the metal screen and actually pierced a small hole where the weave was
compromised!
If you or anyone you know
carries an epi-pen™ to be administered promptly, please ensure that whomever
you’re with is aware of the how-tos should the need arise. Like all creatures
in nature, ourselves included, there are good practices and not-so-wise
activities. Be safe, be smart, and don’t panic when your ears become pointier
and you query “What’s the Buzz?”.
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