Oconto Falls – It is officially outdoor entertaining season and whether you are planning a family barbecue or going on a camping trip, you're likely to encounter some uninvited guests: Bugs. The list of outdoor insects is never-ending and the disturbances they cause during outdoor activities can be frustrating.
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus and even dengue; ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other serious infections; and fleas can transmit plague. To prevent these types of illnesses and other disturbances, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital and its partner, Prevea Health, recommend the following important tips.
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Select the right location. Keep away from wet grassy areas where the insects are abundant. Avoid other locations where insects multiply like ponds, lakes or any standing water. Look for sites with good water drainage, and don't pitch your tent anywhere near standing water.
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Keep your area clean. Gather trash and dispose of it daily and don't leave food sitting out.
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Dress appropriately while outdoors. Dark and bright colored clothes are like magnets for insects. Wear light and pale-colored clothes while outdoors.
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Avoid using scented personal products. Insects can also smell and are attracted to strong sprays and perfumes. Do not apply strong scents, perfumes or deodorants while outdoors. Stick to fragrance-free soaps and detergents.
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Wear insect repellent when you are outside. There are now various natural repellents. Make sure you read the directions carefully so you understand how long the product is active.
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Build a campfire. Insects are attracted to light, so before choosing an artificial source of light think about a campfire. Building of campfire will give you natural light and the smoke from the campfire acts as natural insect repellent.
For more information please visit https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avoid-bug-bites.
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About HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital serves Oconto Falls and the surrounding communities as a federally-designated critical access hospital with a 24-hour physician-staffed emergency department, urgent care, general, vascular and orthopedic surgical services, inpatient and outpatient surgical and diagnostic services, rehabilitation, oncology outpatient clinic and women’s care. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, in affiliation with Prevea Health, has six regional health center locations in Gillett, Lena, Mountain, Oconto, Oconto Falls and Suring. HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital Pharmacies are located in Gillett and Oconto Falls. Founded in 1921 as Community Memorial Hospital, it was renamed HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in 2014 when it became part of Hospital Sisters Health System. As an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System, we draw on the history of St. Francis of Assisi as we move to continue serving the health care needs of our area in Christ’s healing ministry, caring for all people. For more information about HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, visit www.stclarememorial.org.
About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 14 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Belleville, Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.
About Prevea Health
Prevea Health’s mission is to care for people with passion, pride, and respect. Founded in 1996, Prevea Health partners with HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay, HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, to provide access to more than 200 physicians in more than 60 specialty areas. Prevea has more than 40 locations throughout Northeast Wisconsin and Western Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley region. For more information, visit www.prevea.com.