Have fun, but watch the bugs and sun!

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GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  With summer finally here, base medical officials want to remind the community to stay safe while outdoors.

Insect Safety

Here is some helpful information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about choosing insect repellent to prevent mosquito & tick bites:

--Use a repellent that contains DEET. Products containing DEET include Off!, Cutter, Sawyer, and Ultrathon. Remember that a higher percentage of DEET in a product does not make it more effective, it just offers a longer period of protection For example, a higher percentage of DEET might protect for 3 hours instead of 2.

The AAP offers additional information on the use of DEET for children:

--Products containing DEET should be used with caution in young children and should never be used in children younger than 6 months old.
-- Repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children.
--Insect repellents are not recommended for children younger than 6 months.
--Picaridin (5 to 10%) is an alternative insect repellent that can be used for children 6 months and older.

The AAP also lists some safety tips for using insect repellents for children:

DO'S

--Do read the label and follow all directions and precautions.
--Do only apply insect repellents on the outside of your child's clothing and on exposed skin. Note: Permethrin-containing products should not be applied to skin.
--Do spray repellents in open areas to avoid breathing them in.
--Do use just enough repellent to cover your child's clothing and exposed skin. Using more doesn't make the repellent more effective. Avoid reapplying unless needed.
--Do help apply insect repellent on young children. Supervise older children when using these products.
--Do wash your children's skin with soap and water to remove any repellent when they return indoors, and wash their clothing before they wear it again.

DON'TS

--Don't apply insect repellent to children younger than 6 months.
--Don't spray insect repellent directly onto your child's face. Instead, spray a little on your hands first and then rub it on your child's face. Avoid the eyes and mouth.
--Don't spray insect repellent on cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
--Don't use products that combine DEET with sunscreen. The DEET may make the sun protection factor (SPF) less effective. These products can overexpose your child to DEET because the sunscreen needs to be reapplied often.

More information is available at the CDC's "Stop Mosquitoes" website.  More information on the use of insect repellents for children is available at the AAP website:
 
Sun Safety

What's the best way to protect my child in the sun?

Follow these simple rules to protect your family from sunburns now and from skin cancer later in life.

--Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, umbrella, or the stroller canopy.
--When possible, dress yourself and your kids in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body, like lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats.
--Select clothes made with a tight weave - they protect better than clothes with a looser weave. If you're not sure how tight a fabric's weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better.
--Wear a hat or cap with a brim that faces forward to shield the face.
--Limit your sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest.
--Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection (look for child-sized sunglasses with UV protection for your child).
--Set a good example and use sunscreen. You can be the best teacher by practicing sun protection yourself. Teach all members of your family how to protect their skin and eyes.
How to Pick Sunscreen
--Use a sunscreen that says "broad-spectrum" on the label - that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.
--Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection the sunscreen has.

(Courtesy of the 319th Medical Operations Squadron)