LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Fitness |
by Rick Moore |
Summertime Pests
June and July were really easy months as far as summer goes. I mean, temperatures were actually pretty nice, and did we ever luck out with that low humidity! But like they say, everyone talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it. That rings trueso farfor the month of August. It's hot, hot, hot. We're back to the high temperatures and high humidity. So what to do when those 90 degree-plus temps soar? We headed out to the beaches for relief. And while we sashayed out into the cooling water, we noticed something odd. Weird Animal Road Show: What the Heck Is It? Two men not 20 feet away from us were intrigued by an ocean creature they'd found in the surf. They weren't quite sure what it was. One dared the other to pick it up and throw it toward the jetty rocks, but the other wasn't about to touch this "icky" thing. (Yes, he said "icky.") It's obvious these two weren't from around here, because they'd have already been familiar with the scourge of a hot Augustthe jellyfish. It was a good thing that they'd let the thing alone. Jellyfish have long stinging tentacles and a bulbous, nearly clear, umbrella-shaped body. If this baby had stung either one, it would have put a hurting on them. With all these scares about sharks and such in the media, it's probably best to leave our watery friends alone. A jellyfish is not a giant amoeba with arms, but it sure looks like one. Free-swimming jellyfish can be found in all of the world's oceans. Most live for only a few weeks, but some are known to survive a year or longer. Their bodies are usually under 16 inches wide, but some species grow to over 6 feet wide. They're made up of 99 percent water. I even saw in a checkout aisle tabloid that some jellyfish are 40 feet wide and attack boats in the Bermuda triangle (this story was next to "Killer bug ate my face" and "Chandra Levy found with Jimmy Hoffa"). Most feed on small animals that they catch in their long tentacles (sorry guys, not testiclesalthough that would be a sight), which have stinging cells called nematocysts. Some, however, simply behave like a bad party guest and "filter feed" on everything, extracting minute animals and plants from the water that passes through them. Jellyfish are abundant in the mid-Atlantic region's ocean beaches and bays from mid-summer through fall. In the bays they appear as a milky white color, while in ocean water they may be clear, pink, or red. Young jellyfish like a warm, dry spring, because it makes the water saltier. If there is a rainy cold spring with lots of fresh water runoff from the land, jellyfish do not do well and you will not see as many adults in the summer and fall. So what do you do if you're stung? They say to apply isopropyl alcohol right away, and to remove any tentacles that remain on your skin. Then apply household vinegar. It turns out that the old wife's tale of using meat tenderizer or even the papaya fruit itself actually works. It will help break down the protein of the stinger toxin. (All good homes have some fresh papaya laying around.) It's unlikely, but you can be allergic to jellyfish stings, much like some people are allergic to bee stings. Here's the kicker: a dead bee can't sting you, but a dead jellyfish sure can, as long as the tentacles are moist. For those of you who walk barefoot or bring your animals on the beach, be aware of this. Delaware's Mosquito Coast As if the jellyfish weren't enough of a nuisance, we've also been inundated this summer by those bloodsucking little bastards, mosquitoes. Did you know that only the female bites? There's a bumper crop due to the very wet and mild spring we had. The big news about these flying pests is that the West Nile Virus has been found in northern Delaware. A member of my health club is doing a research study on this disease, which has killed people in New York. While West Nile gets all the press, mosquitoes are also responsible for spreading a host of other diseases worldwide, including malaria, encephalitis, and dengue fever. They have a real problem with dengue in Puerto Rico. I found out that one form of dengue can mimic the Ebola virus symptoms, complete with scary bleeding from bodily orifices. While most healthy people don't have anything to worry about with mosquito-borne illnesses in this area, those who are immune compromised, the elderly, and small children need to take precautions. Namely, they need to wear as much light-colored clothing as possible to reduce the chances they'll be bitten on exposed skin. Also, they should use a good mosquito repellant lotion or spray, but don't overdo it. You want it to be toxic to the mosquitoes, not to yourself. It's a good idea to rid your nearby environment of obvious mosquito breeding grounds, too. They love old tires, birdbaths, and any kind of standing water that doesn't dry up quickly. And while we think of mosquitoes feasting mostly at dusk, they'll be happy to annoy you anytime of the day or night. Why does the bite irritate? It contains a venom that helps thin the blood that the mosquito sucks up. You can take an antihistamine or use an over-the-counter steroid cream to reduce the itching and swelling. Or you can just fight the urge to itch. Here's wishing you a pest-free summer! |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 11, August 10, 2001 |