How should I advise patients on the prevention of insect bites and stings during the summer months?

Advise patients on the following measures to prevent insect bites and stings during the summer months:

• Keep skin covered by wearing long-sleeved clothing, trousers, and socks, as this reduces exposed skin vulnerable to bites and stings.
• Avoid brightly coloured clothing and flowery prints, as these can attract insects.
• Do not walk outside barefoot or in sandals to reduce exposure to ground-dwelling insects.
• Avoid using strongly scented perfumes, soaps, shampoos, and deodorants, which may attract insects.
• Avoid areas where there is a higher chance of being stung, such as outdoor settings with food and drink, compost heaps, and rubbish bins that attract stinging insects.
• If eating outdoors, take care when drinking from opaque containers and straws to avoid accidental stings.
• Ensure that known or suspected insect nests (e.g., wasps) near the home are removed by trained professionals to reduce risk.
• Keep insecticides approved for use on stinging insects readily available to kill stinging insects from a distance if necessary, noting that stinging insects are not affected by insect repellents.
• Use insect repellents that protect against ticks, especially when in grassy or wooded areas, and check skin and clothing for ticks after outdoor activities.
• Cover exposed skin and promptly and correctly remove any ticks found to reduce the risk of Lyme disease.

These precautions are especially important for people who have had a bad reaction to insect bites or stings in the past ¹,².