Insect Protection
The arrival of summer not only brings hot and humid temperatures, but it also brings about insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and mites. Working outdoors, near forests or at construction sites with standing water are where workers are at the most risk to insect bites.  Protection form these bugs is a must since they carry diseases such as West Nile Virus, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Take Precaution! Some basic insect bite protection includes; wearing light colored clothing (since mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors) and cover you body with as much clothing as possible, such as pants, long sleeve shirts, work boots, gloves, and hard hats. These easy tips are the first steps in preventing insect bites. Which repellent is right for me? There are literally hundreds of different types of insect repellents available in sprays, lotions and towelettes. When deciding which type of protection is right for you, make sure it contains the ingredient DEET (N,N-diethly-m-tolumide).  DEET-based insect repellents are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) for the prevention of insect bites and the spreading of infectious diseases.  Insect repellent that contains 24% DEET will provide about 5 hours of protection. For more information about the active ingredients found in insect repellent, visit the cdc.gov website. Insect Repellent Safety Tips
  • Apply only to areas of the skin that are not covered by clothes.
  • Never apply around your eyes.
  • DO NOT apply over your clothes as it may damage the fabric.
  • DO NOT apply over open wounds.
  • DO NOT apply more than 3 times per day.