As a new season of flight is underway, the temperature is continuing to rise and health risks are changing. As you prepare your flying site for this summers events, there are things to keep in mind to keep you and others safe and secure all season long.
It is important that your flying site have its own first aid kit should the need arise and if it doesn't, make sure you have one yourself.
Everyone should have a well-stocked first aid kit whether it is at home, work, or your club flying site. The contents of your kit will vary depending upon the number of people it is designed to protect as well as special circumstances where it will be used.
When assembling your first aid kit, whether for use in the home, car or at work, you should consider possible injuries you are likely to encounter and then select kit contents to treat those conditions.
It is important to check your first aid kit to see if any of the contents may need restocked either from use or being out-of-date. Its also advisable to have both a stationary kit, as well as a compact portable kit that can be taken quickly to the site of an emergency.
Here are some suggestions for recommended contents for a first aid kit at your flying site:
Adhesive strip bandages (assorted sizes)
Adhesive tape
Alcohol wipes
Antibiotic ointment
Baking soda
Calamine lotion
Chemical ice packs
Chemical hot packs
Cotton balls/swabs
Diarrhea medication
Disposable latex or vinyl gloves
Drinking water
Elastic bandages
Face mask for CPR
First aid guide
Flashlight
Gauze pads-various sizes
Hydrocortisone cream .5%
Hydrogen peroxide
Hypoallergenic tape
Insect repellent
Insect sting swabs
Matches
Meat tenderizer (for insect bites)
Moleskin (for blisters)
Needles
Over-the-counter pain medication
Paper drinking cups
Roller gauze
Safety pins
Scissors
Soap
Splint
Sugar or glucose solution
Thermometer
Tweezers
Waterproof tape
Guarding yourself from mosquito and tick bites is also important during this season as both bugs can spread disease.
These important facts can help prevent the spreading of these diseases and can help reduce the risk of mosquitoes and ticks ate your flying site.
The Facts about Mosquitoes and Ticks:
Mosquitoes:
Only female mosquitoes bite
Not all kinds of mosquitoes bite humans, many feed on only animals
Mosquitoes need water to breed. Almost anything that will hold water for one
week can breed mosquitoes
The mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus do not fly far from where they
breed.
Ticks:
Ticks are commonly found in shady areas, moist ground
litter, tall grass, brush, low tree branches, and along trails in the woods.
They are also found in backyards that back up to woody areas.
Ticks do not fly or jump
Not all ticks carry diseases
Ticks must be attached for a few hours to transmit disease
Keep Mosquitoes and Ticks from Ruining You Day:
Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be seen
easily and removed.
Weather permitting; wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt with tight-fitting
cuffs, and a hat when hiking, camping, or visiting tick-infested areas, or when
mosquitoes are biting.
Tuck pants into socks and shirt into pants, and wear a hat. Pull long hair
back.
When hiking, walk in the center of the trail to avoid overhanging grasses,
weeds, and brush.
Use insect repellant with DEET on exposed skin and products containing
permethrin on clothes. Follow label directions. Do not use products that contain
more than 10% DEET on children, or more than 30% DEET on adults. Consult a
physician before using DEET on infants or pregnant women. Wash treated skin when
mosquito and tick exposure has ended.
Do tick checks frequently during the day and a full body tick check at the
end of the day. Use a mirror and check behind ears, behind knees, underarms, and
groin. Ask someone to help you check your back and scalp. Take a shower and wash
your hair before going to bed.
Do not sit directly on the grounduse a blanket or towel.
Remove excess brush and keep grass mowed around your site.
How to Remove a Tick:
Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible with fine-tipped
tweezers. Pull the tick straight out slowly.
Wash and treat the bite area with a disinfectant. See your doctor if you develop early symptoms of tick-borne disease within the next 30 days.
Tick-borne diseases can be treated with antibiotics, but early treatment is important. Serious illness or death can occur if not treated promptly.
DO NOT squeeze the tick, twist the tick, light the tick on fire, or cover the tick in petroleum jelly, nail polish, alcohol, or kerosene. These home remedies may increase the chances of transmitting the bacteria and becoming infected with a tick-borne illness
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