“This post was created in partnership with DSHS. However, all opinions are my own.” #DeclareWarOnMosquitoes

Today, we are sharing a very important post about the best ways to protect your family from mosquitoes this season!

Chemistry Cachet has partnered with the Texas Department of State Health Services to share with you their campaign to declare WAR on mosquitoes!

This topic is always prevalent this time of year for Texans, or anyone else around the country. Our post will share with you the best ways to protect your family from mosquitoes this spring and summer.

Mosquitoes are an annoyance, but they also carry Mosquito-borne diseases like Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya viruses, and Dengue Fever. These diseases can cause lifelong issues for Texans!

To prevent mosquito bites and the possibility of disease, you need to remember WAR.

The Best Ways to Protect Your Family From Mosquitoes This Season!

What is WAR?

Declare WAR on Mosquitoes is a campaign to not give mosquitoes a “biting” chance this year! There are many ways to prevent mosquito bites, and they are so simple. In Texas, we have a very long mosquito season. With the rain and heat, it can last well into the fall. Keep your family safe with W-A-R!

W-wear long sleeves and pants

Exposed surfaces, like arms and legs, are the first spot mosquitoes find. If you plan on being outside working, hiking, walking, or even on a boat, your best bet is to wear long sleeve shirts and pants. In Texas, it gets hot, so this probably isn’t something you think of doing, but it is very important.

I remember as a kid growing up, my dad always worked in long sleeve shirts and jeans to protect his legs and arms while working. This helped with mosquito bites and other annoyances like sunburns, poison ivy, and anything that can harm your skin.

A-apply an EPA-approved repellent

You also need to apply an EPA-approved repellent. It’s important to get one with active ingredients approved by the EPA to make sure your product has the best protection against mosquito bites. Be sure to reference the EPA’s list here for those ingredients.

DEET is one of the most popular forms of insect repellent because it is so effective at keeping mosquitoes away. It works at making it hard for bugs to smell us.

Repellent is so important for keeping mosquitoes away for your family.

However, if you have babies at home, many repellents are not safe until at least 2 months of age. Some products with oil of lemon eucalyptus can’t be used until a few years of age or older! It is important to know the specifics on age, so always ask your doctor to be sure.

In the meantime, there are many things you can do to protect your baby or little one from mosquitoes!

Here are some tips to keep your baby protected:

• Get a netting for strollers and car seats. If your baby needs to be out and about, you can purchase a little net for their stroller or car seat. These allow the baby to have air flow, but keep out bugs!
• Make sure to check with your doctor about repellent ingredients to know when they can start using them. Again, each product is different depending on the active ingredients.

 

R-remove standing water

We have talked about this on Chemistry Cachet before, but standing water is where mosquitoes breed. Even the little bit of water on the ledge of your planter can harbor mosquitoes, so remove ANY standing water. You can just walk around your yard and check every area. If you see water, immediately get rid of it!

If mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed, you won’t find them swarming around your yard. It helps tremendously keeping them away!

In the picture above, you can see the small amount of water in my water bucket just from the faucet dripping. Even something as small as this needs to be removed! Keeping mosquitoes out of your yard will protect your family even more.

Other Simple Tips

Keeping windows and doors shut is another easy prevention tip. Last year we had a large hail storm that ripped up the screens on our windows. The holes became large enough for mosquitoes to fly through if the windows were open.

If you can, try to replace or repair screens like this. Even a quick fix like duct tape can work! Mosquitoes will find their way into your home with open doors or windows, so always keep them shut.

Try it Out!

I would love to see you use any of these tips we’ve shared today! You can tag #chemistrycachet on instagram or leave me a comment below with some tips you’ve followed!