Put away your brights. Bees and wasps are attracted by bright colours. Play it safe and wear something muted.

Watch that perfume. Bees and wasps are also attracted by sweet, fruity or flowery aromas. These include fruit or flower-scented shampoos. Avoid using these if you intend to be out of doors and especially if picnicking or barbecuing.

Close jars, etc. Anything that smells sweet or fruity holds appeal for stinging insects. Barbecue sauces containing honey, jams, jellies, popsicles and open soda cans are invitations to wasps and bees.

Wear a hat. This applies to bees in particular. Bees become especially agitated at the sight of hair. (Scientists believe this has something to do with furred animals stealing honey.)

Don’t move fast. For some reason, bees and wasps become frightened at fast movement such as flailing arms or swatting hands. This agitation is likely to cause the insect to sting in self-defense. If a stinging insect lands close by, or on you, move slowly and blow lightly on the insect to encourage it to fly away. Teach your child to “play statue” if a stinging insect lands on him.

If you or your child are stung:
If you or your child have been stung by a bee or other insect, you will need to stay calm and act fast. Bees and some yellowjackets have barbed stingers that hook into the skin, where they remain pumping venom for two to three minutes. For this reason, they should be extracted as soon as possible. Remove very gently but swiftly with your fingernail, the blunt edge of a knife, or credit card, taking care to extract against the direction of entry, to prevent further release of venom. (In the case of a young child, have someone hold her while you remove the sting.)

Wasps have smooth stingers that remain intact on the insect, allowing it to sting repeatedly. If a wasp has stung, brush it off promptly and back away without waving your arms about. To help calm the pain of an insect sting, apply calamine lotion or ice, or use the convenient Benadryl® Itch Stick. Since reactions to insect bites/stings may occur well after the actual event, you should remain vigilant for a day or so afterwards.

Mosquitoes and Biting Midges
Although by no means as unpleasant as a bee or wasp sting, mosquito and midge bites are nevertheless irritating and itchy. Being bitten by a mosquito also carries the risk of contracting West Nile virus (WNV), albeit a very small risk.

Mosquitoes are liveliest at dawn and dusk. It is best to avoid being outdoors at these times of day. However, since picnics and barbecues often extend into the evening, it is wise to take a pair of long pants and a long-sleeved shirt with you if you intend remaining through dusk. (Be sure to bring these clothing items for your children too.)

The use of Muskol® insect repellent will keep mosquitoes, biting midges (no see-ums), black flies and chiggers at bay for eight hours.

Insect Venom Allergy
People who are known to have severe insect venom allergies should carry a self-injection kit, including antihistamine tablets, for emergency treatment. The Epipen® auto-injector is available from your London Drugs pharmacy. Emergency medical care should always be sought after any type of reaction to an insect bite or sting.

Treating Cuts and Scrapes
Cuts, scrapes, grazes and slivers are common summer occurrences. Although some minor wounds become infected, most of the time, a quick rinse and application of an antibiotic ointment will ensure that the wound heals safely and quickly.

Savvy parents always take a First Aid kit to the beach or park. A few adhesive bandages and an antibiotic cream or ointment such as Polysporin*, will help keep cuts and scrapes clean and germ-free.

Of course, avoiding ouchies is better than treating them, so make sure your child always wears beach shoes (even in the water), or supportive runners/sandals to protect his feet and help prevent falls.

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