Bug Safety…
– Don’t use scented soaps, perfumes or hair spays on your child.
– Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
– Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.
– To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently back it out by scraping it with a credit card or your fingernail.
– Combination sunscreen/insect repellent products should be avoided because sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, but the insect repellent should not be reapplied.
– Use Insect repellents containing DEET when needed to prevent insect-related diseases. Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile, Chikungunya virus and other viruses.
– The current AAP and CDC recommendations for children older than 2 months of age is to use 10% to 30% DEET. DEET should not be used on children younger than 2 months of age.
– The effectiveness is similar for 10% to 30% DEET but the duration of effect varies. Ten percent DEET provides protection for about 2 hours, and 30% protects for about 5 hours. Choose the lowest concentration that will provide the required length of coverage.
– The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product to product, so read the label of any product you purchase. Children should wash off repellents when they return indoors.
– As an alternative to DEET, picaridin has become available in the U.S. in concentrations of 5% to 10%.
– When outside in the evenings or other times when there are a lot of mosquitoes present, cover up with long sleeved shirts, pants and socks
to prevent bites.

Fireworks Safety…
– Fireworks can result in severe burns, blindness, scars, and even death.
– Fireworks that are often thought to be safe, such as sparklers, can reach temperatures above 1000 degrees fahrenheit, and can burn users and bystanders.
– Families should attend community fireworks displays run by professionals rather than using fireworks at home.
– The AAP recommends prohibiting public sale of all fireworks, including those by mail or the Internet.