Because the risks for mosquito borne diseases are so high, we had to get her vaccinated for things like Typhoid and a prescription for Malaria. But there are some things which have no preventative measures other than insect repellent with DEET. Normally, I would not let her use this stuff, but we're talking about bad diseases that must be avoided at all costs. Her immune system isn't that great anyway, due to an illness when she was about 15, so my plan is to super-detox her when she gets home. And in the meantime, we bought a Costco size package of insect repellent.
She'll be carrying a lot of first aid items as well as medications and immune support items. Traveling with homemade products... well, we've opted not to go that route this time. The last thing we want is for her to flag her bag as suspicious. Fortunately, we've checked into some items that she can purchase once she's there, such as baking soda, which she can use to make a few items.
Her experiment with no-poo shampoo (baking soda and an apple cider rinse) has turned out to be excellent. There was a week her scalp and hair were very oily, but it soon passed and now her scalp is no longer itchy and scaly. Since her shower's there will consist of a cup of water poured over herself, the baking soda will be much easier to rinse out than shampoo. I'm really glad we planned for this in advance! Her plan is to use the baking soda to brush her teeth as well. Baking soda is another item that would be great for anyone prepping to have on hand in bulk.!
Thank you to those who contributed to her trip this past month! We're aware that some of you gave and we want you to know how grateful we are for your gifts that will allow her to go and serve overseas. All her expenses have now been met and she'll be on her way soon. To follow along on their adventures, you can read here.
I'd love to hear from everyone, but especially anyone who has traveled in a similar situation that can give us any tips or ideas we might not have considered. And if you've done something this week to be prepared, be sure to leave a comment or link up!
Does she have a mosquito net to sleep under? My sister has visited/lived in Mozambique since 2003, and a mosquito net is VERY helpful. Also, despite the malaria meds, there is still a pretty decent chance she'll get it. Not trying to be a downer here, but my sister understood that it would keep her from getting malaria, when in fact its more of a "might" keep her from getting it. She's had it so many times we call her Malari-Anna. It gets in your system and can show up at anytime, so a detox once she's home is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteThis week for the preparedness challenge, we completed planting the vegetable garden. However, I think, we will need to reseed the beans and cucumbers because the morning doves have been scratching up most of the seeds. I have devised a plant so they won't be able to do that when I reseed. Lesson learned for next year. Also, we purchased more dry goods for our pantry supply.
ReplyDeleteAmy, when your daughter returns, make sure you open up her luggage outside, remove everything and give it a good washing and you will need to dry everything in a hot dryer. Leave the luggage outside opened up in the hot sun. The last thing you want is an infestation of bedbugs. Hotels are becoming infested because of bedbugs hitching a ride in the luggage of travelers.
Those Berkley water bottles look cool. I think my boys would be interested in those for their 'back-country' hiking.
ReplyDeleteAlso, try this website
http://www.deeprootsathome.com/?p=4237
for a natural recipe for mosquitos...called the vinegar of four thieves.
Maybe that's an option for the future. I would want to try it on my own skin before leaving out-of-country, just to see how it worked.
I haven't made it yet, but have read about it in lots of places~sounds intriguing to me.
Thanks, everyone! GREAT tips!
ReplyDeleteFor mosquitos, you can actually spray the clothing in deet which will help a lot & mean less on the actual body (long sleeves/pants of light cotton material is good too). Lightweight mosquito nets are a good idea & inexpensive for sleeping. Good natural treatment for lice is olive oil on the scalp then cover in plastic wrap & wash out after awhile...allowing your hair to stay a bit more oily than usual is a good deterent since lice prefer a clean oil free scalp. Keeping hair braided or up & out of way will also help.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add that taking garlic supplements (start now) are a great way to deter bugs naturally.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a great mom...she will be prepared and ready for anything. I'm feeling ya on the bed bug spray...um, yes please!! I didn't realize they had that...I may get some to take to hotels. I am AWFUL about staying away from home. :/
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank YOU, Amy, for having this challenge! It has really gotten me SO much more prepared than where I was! I have had some family members laugh at me, but guess what? They are getting on board so fast it isn't even funny! My sis is thinking about having her own garden in the fall and was asking me (who would have thought) about gardening, lol.
ReplyDeleteI have spent a lot of the morning going over my BOB's and the kit for the car. Making lists of what all I need to complete those. The feeling of accomplishment is high around here today!
Ginger, great tips!! I hadn't thought of the garlic supplement, but that's a great idea! They have the mosquito nets there and we talked about braiding her hair as well.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I don't know if they have bed bugs or not, but I know they have BUGS! So we're hoping we're covering all our bases.
I think we're 'officially' finished planting our spring/summer garden. There will be more later this summer, but for now....done. We added a row of sweet potatoes, an extra row of white potatoes, 2 more rows of tomatoes, moved the rhubarb patch and the herb garden to their new permanent homes. I think we're going to plow under the peas that didn't germinate and add 3 rows of a drying bean.
ReplyDeleteToday we got the church garden into the ground...and we found a couple great sites to donate to so we don't have the distribution issues we had last year. Feeding one's neighbors IS a form of preparation, right???
OH, and my homemade-ugly growing tunnel is coming together. A friend from church donated a pool solar cover to the cause...all those air pockets should hold in a lot of heat this winter!
Hi Amy, thanks for hosting. I hope you daughter has a safe and productive trip. It sounds like quite the adventure.
ReplyDeleteThis week I've linked up a post on my top ten foods to store at room temperature, with a focus on traditional foods.
For prep this week, we bought a Big Berkley and a Berkley Sport, as well as five more gallons of coconut oil. We've got the first round of water in the Big Berkley right now.
Andrea, that pool cover sounds like a winner! Let us know how it works for you.
ReplyDeleteLaurie, glad you got a Berkey - you're going to love it!
As for me, I'm stuck on the couch post-surgery and trying my best to be a good steward with what I've been given today.....so I hope to do much of my paperwork/research/study planning and prepping....most of which I believe will be motivated through God's word. In the meantime, my family is still hard at work in our new outdoor kitchen. We have now have an extra deepfreeze, an outdoor stove, and a small refridgerator for the shed~all of which were purchased used and rebuilt I believe which also means at a much much lower cost! My garden continues to grow and I'm hoping to be well enough to participate in the harvesting and preserving all of the goodness! I look forward to hearing updates on your daughters travel and hope her trip will be wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI have used Avon's Skin So Soft (regular) lotion instead of insect repellent for years. It really does work and it is non toxic.
ReplyDeleteMatches and candles if she can!
ReplyDeleteHaving been to thailand, I agree about the mosquito nets. The mosquitos don't totally stay out. Also, there was not always a source of light, so candles and matches were helpful while setting up the mosquito netting. The mosquitos were less of a problem when there was smoke.
In addition, bring some type of hand sanitizer. Soap flakes that you can take in your bag would be really helpful; I had soap flakes in a mathcbook-like case before and you just break off a piece.
Also--TOLIET PAPER. Or tissues, at the least. Does she know how to use the toliets there? Plan on using water there instead of toliet paper, and probably squatting.
Have at least one skirt of some kind; a wrap-around skirt is great because you can put it over anything you are wearing if you are suddenly required to have on a skirt. The wrap-around ones fold up. I bought a few in Thailand and I loved them.
A paper fan. It is hot, and there is no air flow.
I am glad you are getting her the water filter bottle. It is weird brushing your teeth with bottled water, but it's important!
Prudent Homemaker - those are great tips. Thanks! We talked to someone who coached us on all but the candles and hand sanitizer. We bought lots of tissue packets for toilet paper when she's "in town" or out and about. And she's taking four broomstick type skirts that she can throw in her backpack, plus to head scarves and 3 bandanas to cover her head if necessary. Both of her shoes are water-proof (Teva and Keen) because I hear the "bathrooms" are full of standing water (and who knows what else). Ughhhhhh.
ReplyDelete