As summer draws to an end, certain of our "stinging friends" (yellow jackets and wasps) will be undergoing some, shall we say, "life changes," that can affect us as much as them. Late summer and early autumn is when these insects often put on a permanent frown and become uncharacteristically aggressive.
So...that said, what can YOU do to help ensure that YOUR nose and toes steer clear of ol' Mr. Pokey now or any time of the year? Here are a few time proven tips to help you do just that...(in David Letterman Countdown style)
10) Don't hang out in the flower garden. Now I'm not trying to rain on your parade here (or garden, as it were), but this IS where the bees hang out, at least the pollen seekers. Hopefully, this one won't apply to you as much, unless of course, you are alergic. Otherwise, feel free to stop and smell the roses!
09) Call a professional to have dangerous bees, wasps and/or hornets removed. I am not a fan of using chemicals, but I understand that sometimes it is necessary, ESPECIALLY when people's welfare is in danger. But please...call a pro, don't do it yourself. Nothing puts you at risk more than disturbing the angry insect's home (the insect with a poison-shooting needle attached to his rear! ouch!)
08) Keep your garbage and recycling cans rinsed/clean and keep lids on them. This is a biggie; bees love empty soda cans/bottles, but here's a newsflash: be careful when you are picnicking, because they don't discriminate between YOUR drink and an empty can. People are stung every summer on the lips, and that's one kiss you can do without! Keep those garbage cans rinsed too--it really helps.
07) Keep your car windows rolled up. You leave all 4 windows down all the way and you couldn't tempt a bee in with a melted snickers on the dash. But you barely crack a couple of windows while you run in to 7-Eleven to BUY a snickers, and it seems like they have sent out a bulletin to all their friends that your car is open just enough to squeeze in to. Well, if you do get a bee/wasp in your car, they are pretty easy to get out, but the best way to avoid getting one (or 12) is to close up the holes.
06) Stay calm and Stay still. Now I know a lot of you are saying, "Okay, I'll get right on that." Telling someone who has a fear of bees to be calm and still with a bee around is like telling someone who has a fear of bullets to be calm and still with a pistol pointed at them. I get it. BUT, it may help to know that they really do not wish you harm, but rather are just trying to determine what you are...then, they will move on. Scared or not, do NOT swing and slap frantically! (you do that, don't you?)
05) Don't wear loose fitting clothes. I know you love your parachute pants and balloon blouses, but apparently so do the bees. Hundreds of stings are reported each year by folks wearing loose clothing (I don't make this stuff up, really) A trapped bee is a panicking bee, and a panicking bee is a stinging bee. This little piece of advise is really only for when you are going to be in "favorable bee conditions" like picnics, trash pick up, yard work, etc...Otherwise, poof away!
04) Avoid walking barefoot in bee territory. And what is bee territorry? Well, in a word...the ground! But more specifically, be careful around the grass (they often hunt there), clover (they collect pollen there), any small flowers in your lawn--even the tiny, tiny ones (they are attracted to their aroma, looking for pollen), etc. See what I mean? The ground. And it really smarts to get stung between the toes! Be careful!
03) Be mindful when you are eating outside. We're getting toward the top of the list now, and this is a predictable top three, right? Food in the great out of doors. Of course our insect friends are going to want in on the action, but we can politely refuse to allow them to join in our human games. Sugary drinks and foods, fruits, greasy foods--they love it all and will partake of it if it is out and accessible. Keep foods covered and wrap "finished" foods like peach pits, bones as soon as they are finished.
Before we go any further, have you guessed (without peeking) what the #1 Tip is going to be?
02) Avoid wearing bright colors and ESPECIALLY floral prints. This one is sort of a no brainer. If you don't want a bear to bite your hand off, you will not want to be wearing honey gloves when you go into the hungry bear petting area. Likewise, if you do not want bees landing on you, you will not want to be wearing beautiful, bright, colorful flowers all over your body when you go into an area likely to be shared by bees. There is a reason beekeepers wear white. So, don't look like a flower and bees will not be as interested.
And now...the NUMBER ONE TIP for avoiding bee/wasp stings...(drum roll)
01) Avoid wearing perfumes or colognes. Yep...you guessed it. Even more than being amongst flowers or looking like flowers, the aroma of perfumes and colognes sends nectar-seeking bees and wasps into the ozone. They can sense them from afar and they seek them with passion. Why? Because they are so strong. These insects are driven by these artificial aromas and can become emboldened when around them, which means they will want to get a closer look and feel of this mysterious potion, which further means landing on YOU! So be careful during the summer and especially during the dog days and early autumn--these are the days when our otherwise curious friends can forget themselves, and it can get ugly.
And one final note...bee stings for most of us are merely a painful inconvenience...something we will tell our family and friends of and maybe even laugh about later, but about .5% of children and 3% of adults will experience anaphylaxis after a stinging insect bite. This is a severe, life threatening reaction that can come on suddenly and give virtually no time for even 911 response, let alone personal transport. A person can be dead within minutes without the proper treatment---enter: EPI-PEN. This is a self admin-istered injection of epinephrine that interrupts the allergic reaction. It literally saves lives on the spot. If you or someone you know has a food, venom, latex, etc. allergy and you/they do not have this product in your car or on your person at all times, please do something about that today. It is a prescription product that may just save your life. And isn't that worth saving? Of course it is. Do it today...for yourself and for the people who love you.
NOW BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!! : )
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