GREENFIELD — A harsh New England winter can make someone yearn for spring or summer.
But those seasons aren’t entirely a walk in Green River Park. Hotter weather brings issues like heat stroke, sunburns and the dreaded bug bite. Often small in size but enormous in irritation, bug bites can ruin any picnic or baseball game. But there are ways to avoid, or if it comes to it, treat them.
Dr. Vanessa Van Stee, of Allergy & Immunology Associates of New England, said bites severely affect those with allergies, though everyone should take caution when they’re outdoors. Van Stee treats patients at AIANE’s Greenfield location at 33 Riddell St. on Tuesdays. She said the most common bug bites come from mosquitoes and ticks.
Van Stee recommends people minimize their time outside during dusk, when mosquitoes are out and about.
“Mosquitoes tend to not like the full sun,” she said. “During the hottest part of the day, they go in the shade or darker areas and when it starts becoming cooler, they appear more.”
Van Stee mentioned it is wise to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to minimize the amount of contact the little pests can have with the skin. She also suggests insect repellents like Off! Deep Woods, which contains DEET, a chemical she said reduces a mosquito’s desire to land and bite.
Van Stee said the same advice goes for tick bites, and people should always be diligent to conduct full-body checks after they have been outdoors for awhile. She said ice or hydrocortisone or Benadryl cream can help provide relief to someone who has been bitten or stung.
To prevent painful stings from bees, hornets and wasps, Van Stee recommends moving bright, flowering plants away from doorways, where there is a lot of foot traffic. She stresses it is important to remove a stinger (or any other foreign object) if it gets lodged in one’s skin, because failure to do so increases the risk of infection. Once it is removed, the site should be washed with hydrogen peroxide or soap and water.
Van Stee also advised that people mowing their lawns should be mindful of yellow jackets, which often build nests in the ground.
“If you notice bees going into the ground in a particular area, avoid that area,” she said.
Perfume, cologne and body spray can also attract bugs, Van Stee said.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 258. On Twitter: @DomenicPoli