General use information for all personal insect repellents {HEALTHY LIVING}

I’m not sure what the situation is like in your neck of the woods, but where I live, this year there seems to be an abundance of mosquitoes, black flies and other pesky insects.  Since a thriving flying insect population usually means the use of copious amounts of bug spray I thought this may be a good time for an insect repellent refresher.

General use of insect repellents:

• Always read the entire label carefully before using an insect repellent and follow all of the label directions, including restrictions for use on children and the maximum number of applications allowed per day.
• Apply only a small amount of repellent and only on exposed skin surfaces or on top of clothing. Do not use under clothing. Heavy application is not needed for effectiveness. Repeat applications only when needed and as directed on the product label.
• Try not to get repellent in your eyes. If you do, rinse them immediately with water.
• Do not use the repellent on open wounds or if your skin is irritated or sunburned.
• Avoid breathing spray mists and never apply repellents inside a tent. Use only in well-ventilated areas. Do not use near food.
• When using a repellent, do not spray directly onto your face; spray it on your hands first and then apply it to your face.
• Wash treated skin with soap and water when you return indoors or when protection is no longer needed.
• Keep all insect repellent containers out of reach of children and pets.
• Always supervise the application of insect repellents on children.
• Avoid applying repellent to children’s hands to reduce the chance of getting the repellent in their eyes and mouths.
• If you suspect that you or your child is having a reaction to an insect repellent, stop using the product immediately, wash the treated skin, and get medical help. When you go to the doctor, take the product container with you.
• If you are concerned that you might be sensitive to a product, apply the product to a small area of skin on your arm and wait 24 hours to see if you have a reaction.

Hope everyone is having a great summer and the bugs aren’t biting!

Information contained in this post was obtained from Health Canada.

{Disclaimer - The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition and/or concerns with your health practitioner.}