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Tips on How to Treat a Bee Sting

Have you noticed that this time of year always seems to bring with it a lot of bees?  Unfortunately, in addition the delicious honey they produce they also are bee with logorenowned for their painful stings.  There are a few ways to help treat bee stings that can remove some of the pain and in some cases the stinger itself.  There is a small percentage of people (about 3%) that have an allergic reaction to stings that can range anywhere from swelling to a life threatening condition known as anaphylaxis.  Be sure to keep an eye on anyone that has been stung to watch for any allergic reactions and call for help at any sign of distress.

In those who are not allergic there are a couple things you can do immediately after a sting occurs.  In many stingers the venom sack can take 2-3 minutes to release all of the venom so a quick removal of the stinger is important.  Doctors recommend taking a hard, flat object such as a credit card to swipe over the sting to remove the stinger.  Once the stinger is promptly removed the next step is to apply an ice pack to keep the swelling down.  Next you will want to wash the area with soap and water then apply a hydrocortisone cream to reduce the severity of the reaction.  An alternative that some people swear by is a paste made of unseasoned meat tenderizer and water.  There is an enzyme in the tenderizer that can break down bee venom.  Last but not least it is suggested to take an antihistamine such as Benadryl to relieve further symptoms and inflammation.

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Tips to Staying Safe This Fourth of July Weekend

The Fourth of July weekend is one of the most exciting and celebrated weekends of the year but it can also be firework with logoone of the most dangerous. Here are some tips to help ensure that you and your family celebrate a happy and healthy Independence Day!

Be mindful around pools: Swimming is a popular pastime on the Fourth but it is also linked to numerous deaths and injuries. Be sure to never swim alone and even more importantly never EVER let kids swim without constant adult supervision. Statistics show that most children who drown in pools have been out of sight for less than five minutes.

Stay safe while boating: Another pastime that many Americans enjoy over the long weekend is boating but be sure to follow all boating rules. This includes not drinking while driving your boat, not only is this illegal but it is extremely dangerous as well. Also be sure that you have the correct number of life preservers on hand and become familiar with boating rules and regulations in your area.

Avoid sunburns: The Fourth of July is usually a notoriously hot and sunny day and because of this you will want to be extra diligent about applying sunscreen to yourself and your kids. It would also be wise to find as much shaded area as possible, wear hats, and reapply sunscreen regularly.

Drink responsibly: Many Fourth of July activities do not mix well with the use of alcohol such as boating, swimming, and fireworks. You will also want to ensure that you have a designated driver who can get you home safely if you do over imbibe.

Leave the fireworks to the professionals. I know it’s tempting to light off a few fireworks at home but the bottom line is that the reward does not outweigh the risk. If you were to walk into any emergency room on the evening of the Fourth you would immediately reconsider.

Practice food safety: You wouldn’t leave a jar of mayonnaise in your car for a day and then come home and make sandwiches with it but that is exactly the same thing that many people do by leaving out their potato salad, deviled eggs, etc out all day for people to eat. The U.S. FDA suggests never leaving food out for more than an hour when the temperature is above 90 degrees.

Avoid dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic) during the day. Try to spend some time indoors or in the shade as well. Heat exhaustion, heat strokes, and dehydration are very prevalent on the Fourth of July.

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Protecting Your RV Tires This Winter

Putting good tires on your RV is most definitely an investment. And while it is undoubtedly a worthwhile investment you don’t want to throw that investment rv tiresout the window by letting your tires ruin or wear during the cold winter months. There are a few things that you can do to help protect your investment and allow a speedy de-winterizing.

The first thing you can do is make a small investment in canvas wheel covers. Not only do they help to protect your wheels against the cold and the elements but it also helps shield your tires against the damaging UV rays of the sun. If you choose to not use wheel covers then at least before storing for the winter apply a rubber protectant product such as Armor-All on your tires.

To help prevent flattening of your tire on one side, many experts recommend rotating your tires every few weeks. It is also suggested that you place a wooden plank or another insulating barrier beneath each tire. For safety reason it is recommended that you chock the wheels to prevent accidental movement.

Just taking these small steps during the winter can help save you time and money in the long run.

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The Silent Killer

In my opinion one of the scariest things in existance are the risks of carbon monoxide.  Not only is it colorless and odorless but can be caused by everyday appliances without warning.  This is especially true when traveling in an RV so it is essential that you stay informed, prepared, and on top of maintenance issues to help prevent a tragedy.

carbonmdetectorpmSome of the more common ways carbon monoxide can effect your RV are improper use of a portable gas powered heater, an exhaust leak either from your vehicle engine or a generator, or an LP gas appliance that is not properly vented.  Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to lower your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The first is to always check your generator exhaust every time you use it.  When it comes to portable heaters of any kind you need to follow all directions and warnings and direct the exhaust away from the camping area.  And while it may be temping you should never under any circumstances use the range burners or oven to help heat your RV.  In fact even while cooking with the range burners I would suggest always leaving a window cracked to help ventilate.

If you suspect that you or someone else has been exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning go directly to the hospital or call an ambulance.  Some of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include (but are not limited to) dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness and sleepiness, muscular twitching, the inability to think correctly, and throbbing in the temples.  Of course the best way to keep you and your family safe is to install a carbon monoxide detector in your RV and check the batteries before every trip.  Such a small thing could really help prevent a catastrophic tragedy.

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Is that snake Poisinous? How can you tell?

They’re slithery and slippery and they can sneak up on your right in the middle of your pleasant nature walk…. but are they dangerous? That is the question to ask yourself when you see a snake while camping. While I’m not encouraging getting too close to them to determine what they are here are some ways to tell if they are poisonous just by looking at them.

snakepmFirst of all there are only 4 types of poisonous snakes in the United States; the copperhead, the coral snake, the rattlesnake, and the water moccasins. If the snake you have run into has any of the following characteristics it would be a safe bet to steer clear of it ASAP. If the snake has slit eyes, a triangle shaped head, a depression between the eyes and nostrils, or makes a rattling sound there is a good chance that the snake is venomous. While these tips can be helpful, my personal opinion is that if a snake bites you I wouldn’t spend any time looking for physical characteristics but instead would be driving to the nearest hospital for treatment.

And for me this goes without saying but common sense would dictate that you leave any and all snakes alone and treat them like the wild animal they are.

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Campground Pool Safety

In these hot summer months I can hardly think of a better place to be than enjoying lounging around the pool or lake at a campground. But as with most things there are definitely some safety precautions that you must take to have aworry free, relaxing time.

The first thing to remember is that most campground pools and lakes have no lifeguards on duty. This means that under no circumstances should you ever leave your kids to their own devices without your watchful eye. As tempting as it may be to let them wander down to the pool and play it is never ok to let them do so unsupervised. In fact in the United States there are on average 10 people a day that die from unintentional drowning.

poolpmAnother way to ensure pool safety is to invest the time and money into swim lessons while they are young. This is a great way to get kids used to and comfortable with the water. Enforcing the no running or horseplay around the pools is another good way to prevent falls and injuries that can occur due to the wet surfaces. And while my personal recommendation is to discourage diving anywhere besides a specifically marked diving pool it is imperative that you jump in feet first to test how deep the water is if you plan on diving. You need to also remember that when dealing with a lake or pond the depths can vary drastically from one spot to another.

Another way to help ensure the safety of you and your family is to avoid alcohol around water. For some reason people seem to assume that these two go hand in hand but this could not be further from the truth. Impaired judgement and slow reaction time as a result of alcohol consumption could mean the difference between life and death in a water accident.

By following these easy and yet oh-so-important guidelines you can help ensure the safety of you and your family.

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Preventing RV Theft

It is an unfortunate part of life today that we have to watch any and everything valuable as to prevent it from being stolen. This certainly includes your large investment of an RV.

RV theft seems unlikely but the truth is it happens everywhere. Often times thieves simply act as if the RV is theirs, hook up their vehicle to it and take off. I’ve even heard of thieves doing this at campgrounds while the RVers are off sight-seeing or enjoying the grounds. But there are ways that you can protect your investment and those things inside of it as well.

hitchlockpmFirst and foremost keep your doors locked if you are away from your camper. This includes just taking a quick stroll around the campground or sitting a few sites away with friends. Another thing that will certainly deter thieves looking for a quick exit is using a hitch lock or even wheel clamps which will stop the RV from moving, these can be purchased at our parts store. If you leave your campsite to enjoy the surroundings make sure to put away your grill, bicycles, etc so that thieves aren’t tempted to run off with your things. Another great piece of technology that can help you retrieve or track down your stolen rig is a GPS tracking device. You will want to install it somewhere out of sight. That way if you are the unfortunate victim of these thieves you can help track your RV so police can hopefully recover it. It also doesn’t hurt to get to know your RV neighbors, especially if you are living there full time. Just having another set of eyes on your stuff can make all the difference.

If you follow these simple guidelines your RV should be safe and secure for you to enjoy for years to come.