[FloripaUSA]

Hello All, Again....

What are the safe precautions we should take in Florida's outdoors? My Family likes the outdoors very much, other than mosquito's and bugs what are the other stuff we should be aware of? People are telling me stuff that I thought it would only happen at the Amazon Rain Florets in Brazil.

Thank you, ALL

[th3vault]

Watch out for Palmetto roaches, those are some of the nastiest things ever.

Make sure to check the inside of your shoes before putting them on. I forgot to do that once, and a very nasty roach was not happy to be stuck in my shoe when my foot was in it. Trust me, not a pleasant feeling.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by FloripaUSA

Hello All, Again....

What are the safe precautions we should take in Florida's outdoors? My Family likes the outdoors very much, other than mosquito's and bugs what are the other stuff we should be aware of? People are telling me stuff that I thought it would only happen at the Amazon Rain Florets in Brazil.

Thank you, ALL

1) Don't swim in any body of fresh water (alligators + amoebae).

2) Watch out for poisonous snakes, here's a link to identify them Florida Venomous Snakes 1

3) use Sunscreen to avoid sunburn

4) keep pets and small children away from the water's edge (alligators)

5) do the "stingray shuffle" when in the Gulf or Ocean How to Learn the Stingray Shuffle | eHow.com

6) have plenty of drinks on hand

7) have plenty of bug spray on hand

8) DON'T FEED THE GATORS

LOL, What are people telling you? You and your family will be fine outdoors in Florida, no need to worry.

[Mugatu]

The intense heat and the sun above all else, is what you have to worry about. Drink plenty of liquids at all times and wear SPF 5 million sunblock. Because of the high humidity, it's hard for your body to keep cool because your sweat won't evaporate.

But the bugs and other critters are really nothing to worry about, unless you plan on wading through the Everglades or something. But you WILL see an alligator at at some point, it's inevitable. Don't pet them. lol

[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by FloripaUSA

Hello All, Again....

What are the safe precautions we should take in Florida's outdoors? My Family likes the outdoors very much, other than mosquito's and bugs what are the other stuff we should be aware of? People are telling me stuff that I thought it would only happen at the Amazon Rain Florets in Brazil.

Thank you, ALL

One very important thing is to watch out for deer ticks. Deer ticks carrying Lyme disease occur in Florida, as they do all over the eastern coast of the United States. You need to be careful of this especially if you're hiking anywhere, or spending any time near woods (including if your home is in or near woods and you spend much time outside).

There are a number of precautions you can take.

*Spray yourself, especially your shoes, the lower portion of your legs, and any exposed body parts with an insect repellant. Some people do not like doing this, especially if they hike (or are just outside) often, as they worry about the chemicals affecting their health. It can be avoided, but then it's important to do the next things, especially the last one.

*Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, and tuck your pants into your boots (which you should be wearing if doing a real hike--it will also help protect you against other critters on the ground, including snakes). Of course, in Florida, most folks do not want to go hiking with long sleeved shirts and long pants on. I often wear short sleeved shirts and shorts while hiking in Florida, too, although I always wear boots unless I'm just hiking on a beach.

* No matter what you do, make sure that you check all over your body when you get back home for ticks. Deer ticks are very small--they look something like small watermelon seed (well, with legs). You can see a picture of one if you look up Lyme disease on Wikipedia. If possible, have someone else check your body for you while you're naked, before you jump in the shower, say (my wife and I always do this for each other after we've hiked, when we get home, before we take a shower). Don't forget to check your head. As long as you get the ticks within 24 hours, you'll be okay. I've had deer ticks on my clothing a couple times, but never had to get one out of my skin yet, and not all deer ticks carry Lyme disease. It's also treatable if you catch the symptoms quick enough (so make sure you learn the typical symptoms to watch out for), but it's a major pain in the butt (not life threatening, but certainly annoying) if you do not--I know a couple fellow hikers who got Lyme disease and didn't treat it in time.

[NatureCoastFL]

we do occasionaly have west nile virus from the mosquitoes, but I have not heard much about it lately. As others stated, just make sure to use a repellant when outside during dusk and early morning summer activities when the mosquitos are most active.

[FloripaUSA]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

1) Don't swim in any body of fresh water (alligators + amoebae).

2) Watch out for poisonous snakes, here's a link to identify them Florida Venomous Snakes 1

3) use Sunscreen to avoid sunburn

4) keep pets and small children away from the water's edge (alligators)

5) do the "stingray shuffle" when in the Gulf or Ocean How to Learn the Stingray Shuffle | eHow.com

6) have plenty of drinks on hand

7) have plenty of bug spray on hand

8) DON'T FEED THE GATORS

LOL, What are people telling you? You and your family will be fine outdoors in Florida, no need to worry.

Hi,

Thank you for all this great tips.... I liked it that web site about the snakes!! People told me that FL has many cases of crocodiles coming into the back yard and eat the children, some cases of snakes coming through the screened windows and doors, others told me to be-caution of getting out of the car because of the alligators!
I was like! Oh my God...I went to FL many times and I never experience anything like that, that's why I started this thread!

Thank you!!!

[Mugatu]

Originally Posted by FloripaUSA

some cases of snakes coming through the screened windows and doors

When I lived in Orlando, I went out to my garage one day to do laundry, opened the lid to the washing machine, and found a big snake wrapped around the agitator. I closed the lid and decided this was not a good day to do laundry. lol The next day, it was gone. How it got in and out of the closed washing machine, I have no idea.

But that was my worst snake experience in 35 years of living in FL.

[FloripaUSA]

Originally Posted by Mugatu

When I lived in Orlando, I went out to my garage one day to do laundry, opened the lid to the washing machine, and found a big snake wrapped around the agitator. I closed the lid and decided this was not a good day to do laundry. lol The next day, it was gone. How it got in and out of the closed washing machine, I have no idea.

But that was my worst snake experience in 35 years of living in FL.

Oh GOD...inside the wash machine! I don't think I would be able to sleep until I would find it....I hope I would never get to this experience like yours!

Thank you!

[mrs.coach]

decided this was not a good day to do laundry.

LOL!! Yep, I'd have to agree with that, though it'd take a whole lot less for me to come to the same conclusion!!!