Hazards on Holiday
THE SUN…..
There is nothing like relaxing semi-nude, abandoning oneself to the rays of the sun…eyes closed to the cares of the outside world.
Accompanied by a beer, you might just nod off? Later you open your eyes to notice that the sun is closer to the horizon. You are probably fine… just a gleaming red… but you may be developing Sunstroke?
A list of the sunstroke symptoms are: headache, nausea, faintness, shivering, running a temperature, diarrhoea and vomiting.
If you develop all or any of these you need to drink plenty of room-temperature water with a squeeze of lemon or dioralyte; if necessary cold compresses and an Aspirin. The discomfort will continue for 24 hours at least. Ayran a yogurt drink with salt can be bought from all shops. It is best to diet for a couple of days as ones whole metabolism has been upset… starting with boiled potatoes and salt.
All very boring but essential for a quick recovery.
If one takes into consideration that sun exposure leads to pre-mature aging of the skin and other serious ailments… we should all practise Sun Safety!
Use sunglasses with UV protection.
Use suitable sunscreen.
Wear protective clothing and hats.
Local remedies: immediately smooth yogurt over the burnt area. This prevents blistering.
A Kitchen remedy for burns. Spread plain white toothpaste over the burnt area.
We once had a cook who wished to prepare a white bean stew extra fast. He professed to have used a pressure cooker previously.
20 minutes later he pulled the toggle off the singing pot which buckled as the lid flew off and boiling stew flew straight up at his face… Without any first aid to hand, I cleaned away the boiling sauce with cold water and spread tomato puree (the only thing to hand) all over his face and neck… A day later he was back at work slightly pink but without blistering. The acid in the paste had left him looking red but otherwise without a blemish.
Local remedies; immediately smooth yogurt over the burnt area. This prevents blistering.
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SCORPIONS & SNAKES
Yes they do inhabit the Med… but would rather go about their daily routine without meeting you.
You are unlikely to meet either unless you decide to help the local shepherd.
Snakes sun themselves in the morning and then disappear.
Similar to the one original they are very fond of curling up in a tree… sleeping through the heat of the day. In Turkey the larger the snake the less likely it is to be poisonous.
Scorpions are more devious. A snake will disappear from sight as fast as possible. A scorpion stands his ground. Scorpions tend to be nocturnal and hide under stones like trolls.
There is a simple remedy for both… carry a razor!
Immediately bleed the area bitten or stung.
As an alternative whenever possible go immediately to the local hospital for an injection of the antidote. You should take a photo of the snake with you. Untreated the area round the snake bite will swell up.
Black scorpions are larger but less poisonous than their smaller yellow counterparts. A sting may give one 24 hour pain and discomfort so to get back into holiday mode as fast as possible it is best to go to Emergency. For an injection; no photo is necessary.
Only babies are at any real risk… As a precaution in villages a cot is strung up to the rafters or if on the floor cot legs are stood bowls of water.
Snakes shy away from various smells especially that of Sulphur. Many gardens have sulphur powder sprinkles round their perimeter… mix this with unslaked lime and you will be rid of slugs and ants as well!
BEES & WASPS
Their Bite is worse than their Buzz…
We put up with wasps because we know they are essential to the biodiversity of any area, but we do not want them to spoil our delicious fish dinner. Burn some ground coffee powder and they disappear.
Chemists sell sting pens.
Along the coast one is not likely to be bothered by bees unless out walking in the autumn near a group of hives. These have to be placed two kilometres away from the nearest village. Depending upon the season, hives are moved to follow the flowers. In autumn the bees feed from the Pine forests.
