Find out more on OWN Miracle Detectives
7/26/13
Mosquito Bites, Diagnosis and Tips for the Family
Warning to California residents....Please see the report by NBC News today as related to this post!
 |
| CDC Photo |
Mosquitoes! Those pesky little bugs lurking to cause summer time irritation. Most commonly found in the moist or heavily water populated areas of the world. For the US, you are more likely to encounter mosquitoes in the Midwest, Southeast, Northeast or areas with heavy concentrations of long standing water.
Mosquitoes are produced when the fertilized eggs are laid in standing water where they will hatch and grow into water organisms that feed from the algae in the water. Once matured, the mosquito grows wings and is ready for flight, living in moist, tall grasses and water areas. Male mosquitoes are only good for mating, which typically occurs immediately upon maturity. Once the male has found a female, they typically only live a few hours after mating.
The female mosquitoes are the culprit for biting humans and animals in search for blood. Female mosquitoes require protein to help produce eggs for reproduction and require the blood of a human or animal to assist in egg production. The female uses sensors which alert them to body heat, CO2 (exhaled breathing) and chemical scents found in body sweat. The female finds its victim and sticks a needle type stinger into the skin. Injecting saliva into the opening to thin the blood, the mosquito then draws the blood into their body.
Many humans have an allergic reaction to the saliva which causes a red, itchy or irritated bump. Some mosquitoes carry disease and parasites causing illness to humans and animals. Some of these diseases include Malaria and West Nile Virus however most bites in the US are just irritating to humans. However, it is wise to protect yourself and your family to avoid further complications and illness.
PREVENTION AND CARE
One of the most commonly used products in the avoidance of being bitten by many insects including mosquitoes is products with Deet. Deet is a chemical that confuses the sensors of the mosquitoes preventing them from finding their victims. Additionally, Deet causes asphyxiation in mosquitoes resulting in death. The products using Deet as the active ingredient come in several strengths for effective use for longer periods of time. There are other preventative products on the market that can be clipped on the clothing or natural oils that are a deterrent to the mosquito. Once a person is done with their outdoor activities, they should wash off the product completely with soap and water to minimize the risk of ingestion. As with all products, follow the directions on the product to ensure effective use and safety. Additionally, a person can take further protection by wearing light colored clothing, wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants, tucking their pant legs into their socks and using large brimmed hats to reduce face and neck attacks.
Should a person be bitten, many products can be used to reduce the histamine at the site causing the itch and swelling. Products like Benedryl or other anti-histamine over the counter drugs can be used to reduce the irritation at the infected sites. Additionally, topical applications like After Bite and Calamine lotion can be used to reduce or stop the itching for a period of time. Home remedies including warm/hot compresses on the affected site, warm/hot baths or a paste of baking soda and water can be applied to the site to reduce the itch. Should these solutions not correct the issue within 3-5 days or if the sites become more irritated, one experiences fever, nausea or flu like symptoms you should seek professional medical help immediately.
Although most mosquito bites in the US are harmless, prevention should be sought after to keep disease spread to a minimum. Remove standing water from around your home, change birdbaths and kids wading pool water frequently. Reduce the time of your automated sprinklers to ensure the watered areas are not saturated with standing water. Spray your yards with insect repellent to minimize the breeding of pests.
The comments written in this post are personal opinions and tailored to our specific situation only. As with everything, you should do your own research to ensure you are protecting your family based on knowledge you personally obtain from professionals. Seek additional information from your own doctors and contact your local county agencies for professional recommendations on your specific situation.
Written by guest writer: Tim Bosek COO, Field Trip Mom
You may find more information on mosquitos on these site:
Center for Disease Control - CDC
Metamorphosis
Learning About Mosquitos
Annual Community Garage Sale - Lake Forest, CA 92630
Lake Forest, California will be hosting it's largest community Garage sale on July 27- July 28th. Imagine blocks and blocks of people selling their gently used items. This garage sale is so popular that people come from as far away as San Diego to shop. The neighbors are so friendly they sell their homemade egg rolls, tacos and tamales. Shopping and food are two of the things to do at this garage sale. This only happens once a year, so if you are in the area stop by. Wear comfortable shoes, because there is lots of walking to do and lots to see. The major cross streets are Trabuco Road and El Toro Road.
The streets that will be hosting the garage sale are Auburn Dale Drive, Chapel Hill, Dartmouth, Foxborough, Heatherow, Marylhurst, Revere, Rockford, Toledo, Westover and Williamsburg streets. Near Cherry Park, Lake Forest, Ca 92630.
|
Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. All thoughts and opinions are all my own. This is not a sponsored post. |
7/25/13
The Children's Place Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel Bash
WHAT: The Children’s PLACE Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel Bash
WHEN: Saturday, July 27th
12:00pm to 2:00pm
WHERE: Farmers Market
110 South Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 9003
If you are in Los Angeles you don't want to miss this great opportunity. The Children's Place at the Farmer's Market invites you to come and have fun with them this Saturday .The first 50 attendees to arrive on Saturday will have the opportunity to meet the show’s creators, Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, and take home a one-of-a-kind hand drawn illustration. All guests will be treated to an energetic Radio Disney sponsored dance party, and will get to meet Phineas, Ferb and Perry the Platypus. Come ready to have a great time and dance the day away.
The Children's place is a great place to find back to school clothing and accessories. Sign-up for sales alerts and special offers on their website. Don't live in California. No problem, you can shop online.
Shops that are nearby:
Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received the media alert and I am sharing it with you with permission.
Petrified Forest National Park
It was a Sunday Morning when we drove past the sign that read "Petrified Forest National Park". We were running behind schedule on our road trip, when we decided to make a U-Turn back to the National Park. There was a long drive ahead of us to Minnesota, so stopping to see the stone trees was not the best idea. Our curiosity was much stronger than our common sense. So there we went to see what a Petrified Forest looked like and why was it named as such.
Fossilized remains are Petrified trees. They are a piece of history telling a story of how life changed over 218 million years ago. Camping here is the best way to learn about the park and all it has to offer. The park is approximately 218,533 acres that requires days to really see the entire beauty of the forest. We only had 30 minutes, so we walked around the visitor center. Unfortunately, it was closed when we arrived however the park did not disappoint as we still got to touch and see Petrified Trees. These stone trees are 218 millions of years old according to the National Parks Service.
These Petrified Trees are made of "minerals, including silica dissolved from volcanic ash, absorbed into the porous wood over hundreds and thousands of years crystallized within the cellular structure, replacing the organic material as it broke down over time." (Source National Park Service)
This is a tree that was near the visitor center. Here we could see the Quartz and other minerals that have taken over and replaced the wood. The shape is still in tact, because we can still see it once was made out of wood and it was a tree. We were just amazed that they actually exist in the world and they are so close to California.
Truly amazing to see and feel marbelized trees. The process of fossilization is an incredible display of scientific wonder. If you have an opportunity for a long weekend trip, this is one park you won't regret visiting.
7/21/13
Meteor Crater Visitor Center - Arizona Roadtrip
The
Grand Canyon visit was short but educational and inspirational.
We left the Grand Canyon and headed East towards New Mexico. On our way
to our destination, we came across the Meteor Crater Visitor Center off
Interstate 40, Exit 233. We were informed of the destination by the posted
signs and billboards on the side of the road. One of
the signs read, "Meteor Crater National Landmark 6 miles",
curiosity got the best of us.
It was only
6 miles to the National Landmark! This totally grabbed our curiosity
so we ended up driving up the road to meet up with the curiosity. None of
us had ever heard of this place before our visit. Besides how often do we get
the chance to see a meteor crater?
We had to climb a small
driveway up to the visitor center. The crater is in the middle of the AZ desert
with little around but some cattle on nearby ranches. As you can see there is nothing else nearby
for miles other than sky and ground.
Walking
out of the visitor center and museum, there are sets of stairs that take you to
platforms where you can get closer to the Meteor Crater. Lining the crater rim and the platforms are
telescopes that help one look to the bottom of the crater. This is what we saw:
There we saw it, a Meteor Crater which is one mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and more than 550 feet deep. It is believed to be approximately 50,000 years old or so. This is considered one of the best preserved meteor crater on Earth. The entire Earth!
NASA
and the U.S. Geological Survey provided extensive science training at the
Meteor Crater for the Apollo Astronauts from 1964 through 1972 as per their
website. As you walk through the visitor’s center there is information
about the science behind the meteor crash.
The place brings out your excitement about our sky and the what is really out there in the Universe. We wondered about what it must have been all those years ago when NASA trained Apollo Astronauts on this location. Then we realized that we got the chance to walk the same ground as the Apollo Astronauts. The experience left us with wanting to know more about science.
We highly recommend the Meteor Crater Visitors Center for all who love science, beautiful mother Earth or just love an adventure. We had a great time exploring science at the Meteor Crater in Arizona.
If you want to visit, please go to their website to find out their hours of operation.
Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. All opinions and thoughts are all my own. We did not receive any monetary compensation. This post is intended for entertainment and to inspire you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
My family and I were invited to Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament for an afternoon of entertainment. I want to tell you about our jou... -
Entry -Form I attended a lunch sponsored by Marie Callender's to try their summer menu along with other friendly bloggers. We w... -
Southern California has many great hidden treasures / field trips for travelers and local residents to explore. Factory Tours and Museums ...