Tips On Camping With Allergies and Asthma
Today my friends, I would like to discuss ways to avoid allergies while camping. This is the time of year that many of us are enjoying the outdoors and one of the most popular get a ways for the family is camping and convening with nature. Sleeping under the stars, toasting marshmallows over an open fire, hiking through the woods, and learning about the wonders of nature. This can be a very enjoyable time, but if someone in your family suffers from outdoor allergies it can certainly expose you to a series of dangers.
Let me give you some tips to help you stay healthy and to allow you to enjoy the wilderness experience!
Please plan ahead by implementing some important prevention and treatment strategies!
1. Schedule your camping trip around the allergy seasons and accord to the allergies that your family member or members suffer from so that you can avoid being outdoors when your triggers will be in full force. For instance, tree pollen can be a problem from late spring through early summer, while ragweed can be prevalent during July and August.
2. Check the forecast for pollen count and ozone levels according to the location where you are camping and schedule your trip while the allergens are lowest.
3. Be prepared for insect bites and stings, exposure to poison ivy, and make sure you have all allergy medication and/or antihistamines, topical anti-itch creams, especially an EpiPen if one of your family members is in danger of anaphylactic reaction.
4. Make sure your tent is allergy-free. If it’s been stored in a shed or somewhere that is dusty, air it out and give it a thorough cleaning to remove dust mites and other allergens that may be lingering in the fabric.
5. If food allergies is an issue make sure you take easy-to-prepare “safe” foods and don’t eat any new foods that could trigger a reaction.
6. Educate you and your family on how to recognize poisonous plants, including poison ivy, oak, and sumac so you can avoid these triggers. If you would happen to come into contract with any of them, immediately wash off the infected area with soap and cold water thoroughly to help prevent or reduce a reaction.
7. Do not set in front of a campfire, since smoke can trigger a reaction especially if you are using wood that you aren’t familiar with. This is especially a problem with people who have allergic asthma.
Check out the AAAAI website for helpful information on camping with allergies and asthma--http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/just-for-kids/key.aspx
Living with allergies and asthma is always a challenge for anyone but especially for children. Coping with reactions, but still being able to take part in activities that they enjoy such as camping is very important. I hope some of my suggestion that I have provided will help you or any of your family members that have allergies or asthma avoid any unpleasant reactions and be able to enjoy life to the fullest!
Quote of the Day: Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world!” ~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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