mosquito cocks

When you go outside it’s lush and green and your night companions are sometimes the local mosquitoes too. While some people aren’t too affected by their bites, others (including me) are. In those allergic to stings (me too), the irritation from the sting is followed by intense itching and red swelling around the sting. This is due to enzymes that a female mosquito injects into the skin before sucking blood. While these bites are fairly harmless, there is the rare chance that they can become infected (malaria!) and are best avoided in any case.

Mosquito repellents are plentiful on the market, and most of them seem to be quite effective when used as directed. It helps to wear long pants and full shirts.

If you are bitten, the best course of action is to do nothing. Scratching only intensifies the itch. If the irritation is very severe, rubbing ice or any cold metal surface helps a great deal. Ideally, get involved in something to distract yourself from the itch.

If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter!

snakes

In the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, snakes rule. They seem to be found in every region we go to. However, we have not had a snake-related casualty on a show. The reason is that snakes are shy creatures. Very few of the snakes we come across are actually venomous and even the ones that are would rather run away than encounter a creature many times the size and waste the precious venom it uses for digestion and cannot do without. In any case, humans do not have the prey size for any of the snakes in our region.

Still, snakes can bite, are slippery creatures, and to say the least make most of us nervous.

There are many things we can do to prevent snakes and snake bites. Look carefully before reaching into cracks or under rocks. Wear shoes in the desert at night and walk slowly to give them time to escape. If you come across a snake, tap your feet to alert it to flee and move away.

In the rare case that you or someone with you is bitten, look at the wound carefully. Venomous snake bites leave two puncture marks and non-venomous bites leave scratches. If in doubt, or if it is a venomous bite, tourniquet the thigh or upper arm and reassure the victim and help them stay calm, keep their heart rate as slow as possible, and move to the left. nearest medical services at the same time.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HANDLE OR CAPTURE SNAKES YOU MEET UNLESS YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE TO ACCURATELY IDENTIFY THEM AND HANDLE THEM PROPERLY. This is one of the leading causes of snake-related accidents.

scorpio dicks

Scorpions abound outdoors in India, and being careful is an unsurpassed virtue. They are nocturnal, so it is helpful to know that they might be around after dark. Basic precautions include giving bedding a good shake before going in, if it’s been lying around for a while, shaking out shoes before setting foot in, not getting into dark crevices of any kind without checking them first. If you are bitten, the procedure is the same as for a snake bite. Keep calm, restrict the spread of the poison and run to the first doctor you find.

Dehydration

Dehydration is the most common medical problem outdoors and the leading cause of headaches and blackouts. We are not used to spending a lot of time under the sun, or in physical activity. We lose a large amount of water through perspiration and even through simple evaporation through our skin.

The result is headache, fainting, chapped lips, exhaustion… We need to drink water to cover our losses from exposure to the environment. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times and make it a habit to drink from it. Hats, sunglasses, and full clothing are helpful in keeping cool and minimizing water loss.

You will need more water than usual, and being unaccustomed, you may not consciously feel thirsty, so consciously try to drink as much as you can. There’s no such thing as excessive water intake outdoors and you’re not getting enough if you don’t need to go pee every couple of hours.

tanned

This one is self explanatory. Apply appropriate sunscreen and reapply as needed. Hats, sunglasses, scarves and full clothing help. The more sensitive your skin is, the more careful you need to be around these things.

chapped lips

The main cause of chapped lips is dehydration (also smoking). Most of the time, it’s pretty safe to say that if a person has chapped lips, he needs to drink more water. Vaseline, lipsticks, etc. They help protect and relieve discomfort, but they can’t really cure dry lips.

cuts and scratches

These occur on exposed skin that rubs against nearby things. Long pants and full-sleeved shirts solve most of this problem. Being careful and avoiding scratches does the rest.

campfires An evening outdoors is most cozy around the fire pits. A few precautions can help keep you worry-free.

Avoid campfires unless it’s cool enough to require one, or you need one for cooking. The wood is best saved as fuel for the locals, who might end up cutting down trees in the absence of dead wood.

Build a fire in an area as sheltered from the wind as your site allows. Also build it downwind from your lovely nylon tents that could get sparks and tinder from the wind.

Handle fire from a suitable distance and with due regard for the consequences of carelessness. Pay special attention to long hair and loose clothing when leaning over the fire.

Enjoy to your heart’s content!

Before retiring for the night, make sure the fire is out. Dipping a bucket of water and putting a couple of flat rocks in it is a good way to ensure this. Wind directions often change at night and early morning and you don’t want to sleep soundly in your tent when the wind brings embers like that.

These ideas are cautionary, and there is great potential for fun. So don’t forget to have a good time.