Previously the Great NEWS blog shared suggestions for Perfect Health for Terrific Teens and today we shift gears to help you Be Prepared for Pathogens, Parasites, Pests and Problems. During my recent ten day trip to Costa Rica I met Doug an American that was bitten by a poisonous Fer de Lance pit viper.

The Perfect Health Mastery series is committed to helping families be happier, healthier and live in harmony no matter where you live or travel. Learning how to Be Prepared for Pathogens, Parasites, Pests and Problems requires specific skills, strategies and suggestions to deal with potential risks to your health and well being and that of your loved ones.

What It Means to Be Prepared

Jungle pathDoug’s snake bite ordeal including three days in the hospital cost him $4500 and caused major stress on his body and mind as well as his wife. His story quickly reminded me of the Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared.”

Being prepared means to first consider and minimize the risks, secondly make plans, rehearse and train and lastly to deal calmly with whatever happens. This is great wisdom when dealing with the potential consequences from pathogens, parasites, pests and problems. Luckily Doug was with someone that knew exactly what to do and rushed him to the hospital for treatment within one hour.

Had he been wearing long pants and shoes instead of shorts and river sandals he might have avoided the snake bite to his foot. At least using a flashlight and walking stick might have allowed him to see the snake in the dark and avoid stepping on it. He was lucky to have only one fang and apparently minimal venom injected so he did not suffer major tissue damage from the hemotoxin and he recovered fairly quickly. While his vacation trip was definitely disrupted he will be able to return to his business in Connecticut with a valuable life lesson.

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus and four venomous snakes live within the city limits of Houston so you never know when you will need to be prepared. Fleshing eating bacteria have afflicted people in over 61 countries. Even simple activities like hiking, being outdoors, enjoying nature, riding horses, playing sports, swimming and traveling require basic awareness and diligence. When you add insects, pathogens, parasites, pests, plants and even the water you drink there are many areas to be careful and conscious of in advance.

Wise and Watchful

Planning ahead and during my trip these are just a few examples of the pathogens, parasites, pests and problems that can ruin a trip to Costa Rica and most other third world countries:

Amoebas, ants, bacteria, bees, chiggers, flukes, fungus, hook worms, mosquitoes, protozoa, scorpions, snakes, spiders, spirochetes, tapeworms, ticks, virus, wasps. You also must be aware of bed bugs, cholera, dengue fever, kissing bugs, malaria and yellow fever.

Bacteria such as botulism, Ecoli, flesh eating bacteria, leprosy, pneumonia, salmonella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, tetanus and tuberculosis can also pose a major risk in developed and undeveloped countries depending on your level of health and immunity and so it is imperative to read further and learn how to be prepared. Many bacteria are becoming antibiotic resistant so the risks have greatly increased no matter where you live.

Watch for Thorns on PlantsEven saps, sharp needles, spines and thorns on plants can lead to very painful experiences and potentially harmful health risks and infections.

Being as educated and prepared as possible in advance is the first key to protecting yourself. There are also important steps you can take to protect yourself with natural compounds, the right clothing and protective gear. Finally you must be prepared to treat yourself as the first responder. These are essential life skills to reduce your chances for inconvenience, infections, pain, suffering and even much worse.

No matter where you live or travel in the world there are many pathogens, parasites, pests and problems that can be anything from a nuisance, to ruining your day or even threatening your life.

Did you know that you have more bacteria inside your body than all of your other cells combined?

The key question is do you have more of the friendly good ones or unfriendly gross ones?

Stay tuned as we will cover this in more detail in an upcoming article.

Skills, Strategies & Helpful Suggestions

The following are some of the key risk categories and specific skills, strategies and suggestions to help keep you and your family enjoying perfect health and happiness:

Being mentally prepared, packing a first aid kit, remaining calm and conscious of your situation and surroundings and also understanding basic first aid skills are essential for everyone at every age. Learning how to prevent as well as deal with pathogens, parasites, pests and problems are as important key survival skills today as a hundred years ago.

Some basic items every first aid kit should include are:

Bandages (various sizes), bandana, betadine, bicarbonate of soda, calcium bentonite clay, clove oil or spice, colloidal silver, eucalyptus oil, first aid guide, gauze, iodine tablets, matches, needle, oregano oil, scissors, sling material, tape, tea tree oil, therapeutic magnet, thread, tweezers and twine. Antihistamines, prescription drugs and emergency medicines are essential for anyone with specific health conditions. Access to medical history quickly can also be a life saver. These days a fully charged cell phone and easy access to key personnel is a key component of your first aid preparedness. Do you have “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) programmed into your phone?

Preparing Your First Aid Kit

Just because we appear to have so many modern medicines, medical facilities and medical personnel available in our modern world is no excuse to forget common sense and good judgment. It is essential for parents to be super role models when it comes to helping your family and friends understand and prepare for the various risks to their safety and well being.

Natural First AidAdults and children of all ages need to learn how to deal with the emotional, mental and physical consequences of dealing with pathogens, parasites and pest problems. Be sure you invest the time for learning about the various challenges you might be facing and committing the time for preparing a basic first aid kit and instruction guide. This will help you to effectively and efficiently deal with the minor issues that come up (80% of the time) and for the more potentially serious issues (20%) you at least can prevent and treat for shock. Even in the case of relatively minor injuries going into shock can cause serious complications or consequences and even death.

One of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and family is learning basic first aid skills and even more advanced Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or the new easier version of Cardio Cerebral Resuscitation (CCR) training. You never know what accidents, illness or unexpected events may occur which places someone’s limbs or life at risk. Prevention skills as well as fast, efficient, effective and safe first aid treatment are worth more than gold when it comes to helping someone in need of assistance and first aid. The difference between a deadly heart attack or stroke is early detection and proper treatment.

Being fit, in good heath and with a strong digestion and immune system is a great first step to minimizing your risks while traveling. Any conditions that are currently hindering your overall health and well being can be quickly magnified under the stress and strain of new challenges and environments.

Staying Hydrated & Additional Pest Aids

The Suns Rays Purify WaterIf the local water is questionable be sure to consume bottled water. Avoid alcohol, beer, coffee and sodas as these may contribute to dehydration and weaken your immune system. Also avoid ice which often contains pathogens. You can also carry iodine tablets to purify your drinking water. In an emergency situation clear glass bottles or plastic bottles filled with water and left in the direct sun for two full days will normally be purified by the suns ultraviolet rays and made safe to drink.

Wearing gloves, hats, long sleeve shirts, long pants and shoes can protect you from many things that bite, cut, scratch and sting. Essential oils and herbal formulas can also be used to help naturally repel biting insects. Mosquito netting headsets and for beds can be super valuable when mosquitoes are a major nuisance and where they transmit disease.

People are regularly exposed to parasites from fish, meat, pets, plants and water. Therefore doing periodic parasite treatments using natural items such as papaya seeds, peppers or (worm wood, green black walnut hull and clove) are often very helpful. For any irritant, parasite, poison or toxin that exists anywhere in the world there is a natural treatment that exists close by if you know where to look for it.

Many people also use a Rife machines, Zappers or similar devices which use various electronic frequencies to eliminate parasites. Even the suns ultraviolet and far infrared rays have many healing properties. Mud baths, saunas and sweat lodges have been found to be very effective for removing accumulated toxins.

By being more alkaline and avoiding being acidic you are greatly improving your bodies natural healing and immune system. Regularly consuming and using natural antioxidants, baking soda, mineral, sea salt, trace elements and vitamins are definitely helpful.

It only takes one injury to ruin your day or potentially risk your life. Simply wearing goggles, helmets, protective clothing and gear and seat belts goes a long way to protecting us from danger and harm. Most drivers in Costa Rica are first generation drivers so they often take major risks when passing on the narrow and winding roads. Coastal rip tides and strong under tows also claim many locals and tourists each year.

Taking Extra Precautions

Even on the airport shuttle bus or van I wear my seatbelt. One trip to LA really stands out since the shuttle driver almost ran into the back of a stalled car in the HOV lane at 70 MPH. Only a last minute swerve avoided disaster and I was so thankful my seatbelt was on. Most of the other passengers had neglected to buckle up and could have been seriously injured or killed.

We all have busy schedules and complex demands on our time which is why it is super important that we prevent, protect and prepare for anything that could risk our life, life style or livelihood. Our greatest assets are our family, health and ability to perform our career. Many of the pathogen, parasite or pest risks can potentially take these gifts away from us so we must be fully prepared to the extent possible.

Your family and friends are depending on you for guidance and instruction so be sure to make the commitment and step up to be prepared for pathogens, parasites, pests and problems. Remember your life and their life could be in your hands some day sooner than you realize and what you do to be prepared will make the difference between being a victim or a victor. As you plan your various routines, travels and vacations be sure you set aside some quality time to be educated and be prepared for pathogens, parasites, pests and problems that can rob you from being happier, healthier and more in harmony.

Mastery Action Plan

  1. Buy or prepare a basic first aid kit for your car, home, office and suitcase.
  2. Attend a first aid course.
  3. Check out the new Cardio Cerebral Resuscitation (CCR) training and discover the many advantages it offers over traditional CPR.

Our next Great NEWS blog post will share: Gross Guts versus Great Guts for Perfect Health