Off! Insect Repellent Spray: Do not inhale
Written: Jul 07 '00 (Updated Jun 19 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Effective and convenient to apply
Cons: Aerosol insecticide can be dangerous if inhaled - Not recommended for children
The Bottom Line: Off! Insect Repellent Spray works, but always be careful when applying, especially in an enclosed space.
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| jiwhite's Full Review: Off! Insect Repellent Spray |
I hate bugs because they love me. Over the course of 2 weeks at summer camp I easily collected over 100 mosquito bites without insect repellent. When Off! first came out, it was a godsend to me. Off! Insect Repellent Spray really helps keep bugs from biting me. It is easy to apply, non-greasy, non-staining and effective. Cover the areas you don't want bitten and the insects will stay away.
The problem I ran into with this product is that I used it everywhere. I used it on myself and around the cabin I was sleeping in. As a child, I wasn't careful enough applying this aerosol. Once, I sprayed it all over my cabin at camp without proper ventilation, so I was inhaling as much as was falling around me to protect me from the mosquitos and various other critters. I breathed in enough that I became severely ill. I could not eat or drink for two days without vomiting. Luckily, I was a strong, healthy kid at the time and suffered no long-term effects that I know of.
The ingredients in Off! that are toxic to insects are also toxic to humans. We are just much less affected by the same dose because we are so much larger. If you use enough of it, you will become sick, too. Also, the aerosol form of this product makes it more dangerous than lotions. Anything that can reach your lungs and cross the blood barrier enters your blood stream much faster through your lungs than through your skin. Therefore, you are much more likely to get an overdose by breathing chemicals than applying them to your skin.
To prevent making yourself sick with this product, or any aerosol insect repellent, use only as much as you need in a well ventilated area. Do not spray near your face, especially your eyes and mouth. If you want to apply this product to your face, spray it on your hands first, then use your fingers to apply it to your face. If you are considering this product for children, consider purchasing the lotion forms that are now available. Although aerosols can be more convenient to apply, particularly if you are spraying something other than yourself or an adult, lotions are much safer than aerosols because you cannot breathe them and the application is easier to control.
Recommended:
Yes
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jiwhite
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Member: Janine White
Location: Chandler, AZ
Reviews written: 194
Trusted by: 142 members
About Me:
Criminologist turned Software Engineer
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