While out camping you can count on seeing various types of wildlife, vegetation, landscape, and mosquitoes. Whenever you camp, you have to prepare for unwanted campsite invaders such as mosquitoes.
West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and it can cause serious health problems, especially with children, who are not able to effectively swat them. Therefore, following the right camping practices such as by having Thermacell which is a mosquito-repelling lantern will go a long way in ensuring that you have the best outdoor experience.
Is Thermacell safe to breathe? Here is what you need to know about Thermacell lantern.
Why use Thermacell mosquito repellent?
West Nile virus is a big concern for people who go out camping. This virus can cause uncomfortable symptoms like headache, fever, tiredness, swollen lymph glands, and nausea. In worst cases, those who develop such symptoms can have West Nile neuroinvasive disease which can be life-threatening.
Anyone can suffer from this virus infection, but people who are more than 50 years old and those with a compromised immune system are most vulnerable. Here are the reasons why you need to protect yourself from mosquito by using Thermacell:
-
Thermacell mosquito repellent will prevent mosquitoes from biting you while you are having fun outdoors.
-
It gives you an opportunity to sit back and avoid dealing with the potential side effects of the West Nile Virus.
-
It prevents your family and friends from being covered in mosquito bites and potentially be exposed to West Nile neuroinvasive disease.
Therefore, this lantern is a great investment as it allows you to have a nice conversation by repelling biting bugs without having to swat at them.
Using Thermacell
If you want to use Thermacell mosquito repellent device, you just need to switch it to the on position then you will hear a faint hissing sound indicating the release of butane gas. After five seconds, you can press the start button to make sure that the butane gas is lit. Even in places with thriving mosquitoes, you will observe that they will avoid getting near the Thermacell lantern.
The mosquito repellent mats are supposed to be effective for up to four hours and the butane cartridge for up to 12 hours. However, this duration might vary depending on how you use it. The good thing to know is that it’s effective during the time you are utilizing this product outdoors.Is thermacell safe to breathe?
Thermacell has an active ingredient known as d-cis/trans allethrin. The allethrin is in the category of pyrethroids that are made from pyrethrum using chrysanthemum flowers.
This category is commonly used in urban areas to manage insect pests as they are a minimal threat to birds or mammals. There is good evidence that Thermacell containing allethrin in the mats repel and kill mosquitoes, ensuring that there are fewer bites.
Like any other insecticide, most people are concerned about using Thermacell around children, adults, and pets. Allethrin is designed to be used in an outdoor environment, where it biodegrades in a pretty short time.
It’s not regarded as a persistent insecticide because it breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, and other carbon-based elements. Allethrin will stay in the atmosphere between one to two hours and less than eight hours in a watery environment. It’s a quick-acting insecticide that leaves no residues because it has a short life in the environment.
Several studies support that when you use Thermacell outdoors as instructed, there is a minimum risk of exposure because there is enough air movement. Besides this, if you inhale or touch this insecticide, it’s quickly metabolized in your body as allethrin doesn’t stay for long in human bodies.
Safety precautions
Thermacell is approved by EPA, but you need to use it away from uncovered food while operating it. It’s also important to avoid directly inhaling its vapor because of the allethrin that it contains. Allethrin is toxic to bees, cats, and fish, therefore, avoid exposing it to these creatures.
Since there is heat involved when operating Thermacell lantern, it’s important to keep it away from children. The bottom line is that you have to use it with caution despite having low toxicity for people. This mosquito repellent doesn’t only pose very little risk to pets, children, and adults but it’s also easy to use and portable.
