Using Insect Repellent Safely

What is an insect repellent?
An insect repellent is a chemical repellent that repels insects.

Why should I use insect repellent?
Using insect repellent is the most effective way to reduce your exposure to mosquito bites that may carry potentially serious viruses such as West Nile virus while allowing you to continue to play and work outdoors.

When should I use insect repellent?
are going to be outdoors and will be at risk for getting bitten by mosquitoes. Many of the mosquitoes that may carry West Nile vir
You should apply repellent when you us are most likely to bite around dusk and dawn.

Which mosquito repellent works the best?
The most effective mosquito repellents contain DEET (Large PDF file 140K) chemical name N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N,N-diethyl-3-methyl-benzamide, which is an ingredient used to repel pests like mosquitoes and ticks. Studies have shown that the more DEET a repellent contains, the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that you protection is better, just that it will last longer.

Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors. There are many brands, like those shown below, that contain DEET as the active ingredient. Repellents containing DEET can be purchased at your local drug store, supermarket, outdoor store, and many other places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is DEET safe?
Products containing DEET are very safe when used according to the directions. Because DEET is so widely used, a great deal of testing has been done. Over the long history of DEET use, very few confirmed incidents of toxic reactions to DEET have occurred when the product is used properly.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Environmental Health has recently updated their recommendation for use of DEET products on children, stating that insect repellents containing up to 30% DEET are safe for use on anyone older than 2 months of age.

For more information about using insect repellents containing DEET read our DEET Sheet (Large PDF file 140K).