Our kids are our worlds and we want to protect them at all costs. However, this is impossible, because the world is full of small and big dangers lurking around every corner. And our children explore the world all the time, which sometimes leads to accidents and meetings with all kinds of dangerous creatures, like the various kinds of pests and insects they can meet on the playground.
The pests our kids could encounter in Australia
Mosquitoes
For mosquitoes, it’s true what they say that some people are more appealing than others. They like people who are sweaty, who have been drinking alcohol, and most of all blood type 0. If your child’s blood type is 0, there’s pretty much no point in trying. Mosquitoes will consider them a delicious meal.
Fleas
Fleas usually prefer to invade our pets, but if your kids play in an area that is infested, the fleas won’t think twice about feeding on them too. The result from the encounter will be small itchy red dots all over your kids. Prolonged exposure to these nasty creatures can lead to allergic reactions, like acute dermatitis or asthmatic seizures. In some rare cases, fleas can carry and spread diseases like the bubonic plague, tungiasis, murine typhus, and a lot more. They are all dangerous diseases that can cause serious damage.
Ticks
Yes, you can get Lyme disease from them. At least it is treatable, but you have to monitor the bites carefully so if there’s a problem you can catch it on time and start the treatment right away. Ticks also usually prefer animals, but if you or your kids get in their way, they won’t hesitate to attach themselves to you. They usually target areas with high blood flow and they release an analgesic while they penetrate the skin, so you won’t even feel it.
Wasps and bees
The difference between wasps and bees is that a bee’s stinger is barbed and a wasp’s stinger is not. That’s the reason why bees die after they sting you and a wasp can sting you as much as it wants to.
You can avoid bees and wasp stings by not being a threat to them and stand still if one comes near you. As soon as they sense a threat they will attack. Also, stay away from wasp nests and beehives and you should be safe.
Hornets, however, are much more aggressive than their cousins and might attack you even if you don’t attack first. Hornets can be found not only on plants or their nests but also near trash cans because they would eat human food too. So you should be even more careful and on the lookout.
Spiders
Even the dangerous ones that release venom in your body, will only bite you if they feel threatened and attacked. If you leave it be or kill/remove it from your home or just avoid it in the wild, a spider will not come and bite you. If a bite occurs, you will recognise it by its significant swelling, redness and various colours of ooze coming out of the wound. Have it checked out by a doctor immediately, as the bite of some Australian species can be dangerous.
Ants
Ants are beneficial animals, but they easily turn into the most dangerous pests once they get inside your home or attack your children while they have fun on the playground. Most ant species keep their distance from people, so unless you sit on their colony, they probably won’t pay attention. The pain levels from their bites also vary. Most are harmless, but in Australia, we have fire ants for instance, and their bite hurts like hell.
Rodents
Mice and rats are an integral part of every big city, as they live in the sewers and feed on our leftovers. Most rodents avoid humans at all cost, but if your child stumbles across a nest while playing in the backyard, this can lead to a serious scare and some injuries. It’s very rare for rats and mice to bite without reason, their natural first response is to run away. However, you can never know, there are some giant rats out there that might not be as afraid as we think.
Snakes
Australia is home to some of the most venomous snakes on the planet. Fortunately, they are only found in the wilderness, and we can rarely see one around the big cities. However, the improbable is not impossible, so make sure your kids are aware and pay attention to their surroundings, especially when out in nature.
How to protect your kids from pests while they play outdoors
Pest repellent products
While they won’t work on snakes and rodents, pest repellent products are very effective on all kinds of insects, like mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and much more. Most of them come in the form of a spray, but there are also lotions, wristbands, and many other forms of insect repellent products that will keep your children safe. Here are some important facts to take into account:
- Insect repellents containing DEET. DEET is an active compound used in most bug repellents. It’s a chemical compound with a very long history, it took many years of trials to prove that it’s completely safe. Nowadays specialists have proven that it’s safe to use it on children as young as 2 months, as long as the concentration doesn’t exceed 30%. It hinders the bug’s ability to smell you, and if they land on you, it makes your skin taste bad to them, so they won’t bite.
- Insect repellents containing Picaridin. Picaridin is another synthetic ingredient often used in producing bug repellents. It’s relatively new, it’s been in use for the last 20 years or so. Its abilities are similar to DEET, and it’s safe to use on babies as young as 2 months too.
- Natural bug repellents. Nowadays there are plenty of natural repellents available on the market. Or you can DIY your repellent spray with essential oils such as peppermint, lemon, basil, lemongrass, geranium and eucalyptus. Other strong oil odours that repel pests include thyme, dill, garlic, cinnamon and lavender. Just dilute around 20 drops with some alcohol and water to create a spray, or with some glycerin to create an ointment.
- Combining pest repellent and sunscreen. Many bug sprays and lotions have sunscreen in them. This might seem like a good idea at first, but it can harm your children. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every few hours, while the insect repellent is good for longer than that and your kids don’t need too much of it. My advice would be to take the time to apply both products separately.
- Insect repellent wrist bands. Many kids don’t have the willpower to stay still while you apply the product on them. This is why the repellent bracelets and anklets are on the rave ever since they invented them. They are free of any chemicals and usually contain lemongrass, citronella and geranium oils. If you store them properly, they can last for up to 100 hours and protect your child from mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and much more.
Safety advice when camping outdoors
To avoid being bitten by insects while you’re camping or on a picnic, follow these simple guidelines while you’re out in nature:
- Avoid places where the bushes and grass are overgrown – it may seem like a great idea to get lost in the wilderness, but this is also where most insects hide, and not only.
- Avoid places where there are many animals. Even dogs/cats/foxes/pigeons can be dangerous. Ticks and fleas are found in the same places where these animals spend a lot of time.
- Wear long pants and long sleeves, and don’t spend too much time laying on the grass. Even if it’s a picnic, make sure you have a blanket or some other cover to sit on.
- If you go hiking – stay on the path, don’t go in the grass areas because ticks are most likely to be there and not on the pathway.
- Buy or DIY an insect repellent spray to put on yourself and your clothes.
How to treat bug bites and stings
No matter how careful we are, our children are small explorers of the world, and sometimes bites and stings will happen. It’s sad and painful, but this is the way nature works to protect its species from harm. At that point, the only thing you can do is soothe your baby, treat the bite and observe for abnormal symptoms. Here are a few more actionable tips:
- For mosquito bites, use 1% hydrocortisone cream. Other solutions that will soothe the itching include baking soda and water paste, chamomile lotion or diluted tea tree oil.
- Bee and wasp stings hurt, so be prepared for a lot of crying. Try to keep your child still and scrape out the stinger as gently as possible. You can use something flat to help you, like a credit card. Don’t squeeze, as this will release more venom and increase the pain. Then apply a cold compress to the sting site, it will help reduce the swelling. If your child has problems breathing, develops hives, vomits or has diarrhoea after the sting, call for help immediately, as this is a sign of allergic reaction.
- If you see a tick on your child, there are two courses of action you can take yourself. If you cover the tick with something heavy, like oil, cream or toothpaste, it will start suffocating and will come out on itself. Another way to remove the tick is to grab it with tweezers and pull straight. Don’t try to turn it, because you can damage the head. Afterwards, treat the area with rubbing alcohol. Observe your child closely in the next few weeks for flu symptoms, redness, swelling and pain. Most diseases caused by ticks can take weeks to develop.
- Spider bites usually appear as a red raised bump on the skin. You should treat them with a cool compress and an antibiotic ointment. The bites of some bigger spider species can cause visible bite marks, extreme pain, liquid-filled blisters and a lot of swelling. Seek emergency medical help if you notice anything like that.
Alexander Crawley is a psychology graduate and an entomology consultant for Fantastic Pest Control. In his spare time, he likes to read and write about insects, help people solve their pest problems.