Pest Control and Bug Exterminator Blog

Our Bulwark headquarters may be in Mesa, AZ, but we have a vested interest in the stories and happenings in all the cities across the country that we service. Earlier this week the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America released its Spring Allergy Capitals list. All cities are ranked across America, but only the top 100 are published. Cities are ranked using factors such as pollen ratios, medication consumption and certified allergists per capita.

According to the results, Jackson, MS will be the most challenging city to live with allergies this spring season. Fortunately, we don’t service in Mississippi.

Knoxville, TV. Ranked #2 worst allergic city in the country.

However, we do service #2 and #3, Knoxville and Chattanooga, respectively. The report indicates that Red Cedar, Hackberry, Elm and Willow trees are major contributing factors to nearby pollination. These two cities are new to the Bulwark family as we officially began servicing customers in those areas as of April 1, 2013. Just in time for the allergy season!

From there, we jump to #21 with Tulsa, OK. And next is San Antonio at #24.

Rounding out the top 50 are both Charlotte and Greensboro, NC at #40 and #42, respectively.

At #55, we come back across the country to our most westward branch in the company, Las Vegas, NV. Houston follows close behind at #58 before we hop back across the state of Texas to Austin at #64.

Our Atlanta family ranks in at #72, just ahead of our mother-ship branch in Phoenix. Bulwark World Headquarters no-so-proudly comes across the line at #75. Yeah us!

Our last representing city is Raleigh, NC, who ranks in at #87.

The Top 10 Cities With Allergies

1. Jackson, MS

2. Knoxville, TN

3. Chattanooga, TN

4. McAllen, TX

5. Louisville, KY

6. Wichita, KS

7. Dayton, OH

8. Memphis, TN

9. Oklahoma City, OK

10. Baton Rouge, LA

There are lots of contributing ingredients that mix together for a wonderful serving of allergy season. The reports put out by the AAFA strongly suggests that local vegetation is the main reason these cities suffer the allergenic seasons that they do. That may in large part be true, but there are steps that you, the resident, can take to lower your own risk in your home to reduce the chance of suffering a sniffling and sneezy Spring.

Keep your filters up to date. And that means all the air filters that you come across during the day. Even the best air filters for the home only last up to three months, so make sure you are setting a reminder on your calendar to change them on time. Also, the air filters in your vehicles should be changed regularly according to the manufacturers recommendation.

It’s also worthy to note that spending just a few more dollars on any of those filters mentioned above greatly increases the quality, so if you have a few extra bucks, it might be worth spending.

Keep your carpets clean. Carpets are the #1 favorite resting spot for dust, pollen and other airborne imperfections. Set up a schedule to vacuum your home every so many days, and stick to it.

We’re obviously bias, but having regular pest control treatments will also help to lower the pollen and bacteria that enter the home. Insects such as crickets and roaches leave behind their droppings just about everywhere they go. Most insects also leave behind the shell of their exoskeletons during a process knowing as molting. The presence of bio-matter around the home will surely increase the allergen count.

To see the list of the Top 100 Cities With Allergies, click here.

Related articles

• Charlotte region ranked among worst in country for allergies
• Okla. makes top 10 worst allergy cities list
• Which cities are the worst for people with allergies?
• Southeast Worst Place for Allergy Sufferers

Scorpion Stinger... Scorpions Stings. Scorions don't Bite. No Scorpion Bites.

A Mexican made anti-venom has been making its appearance in Arizona hospitals for the past few years. Part of the clinical study on the anti-venom released data in regards to the effectiveness of the anti-venom in May of 2009 “Antivenom for Critically Ill Children with Neurotoxicity from Scorpion Stings”. The studies carried out in Arizona have proven very positive. The report says that very few had any allergic reactions. The studies have seen a 98% success rate through out the clinicals. The data released in 2009 showed a 100% recovery rate within 4 hours of receiving the anti-venom, opposed to the placebo only having 1 out of 7 recover within 4 hours measured by the plasma venom.

Postive Test Results on Mexican Anti-Venom

“This is the first-ever drug approved for this use by the FDA; the first-ever drug that we are aware of being developed fully in Latin America and subsequently approved by the FDA; the first-ever scorpion antivenom proved effective under controlled clinical trials; and the first-ever antivenom with so few allergic reactions.” Dr. Boyer

Most individuals stung from scorpions will not suffer an allergic reaction. The human body can metabolize the neurotoxin injected by the Arizona Bark Scorpions under normal conditions. It becomes deadly when combined with allergic reactions. Some individuals’ bodies simply overreact to the toxins, sending them into afilactic shock. Afilactic shock makes breathing very difficult. From Rapid breathing to complete shut down of the lungs, individuals will actually die from suffocation. The anti-venom eliminates the plasma venom and within four hours those that were suffering severe reactions are cured.

What does the FDA approval of the anti-venom mean?

Up until now the Arizona hospitals have used the anti-venom as a last effort because it was not officially approved. Doctors always gave it with a disclaimer, “It’s not FDA approved.” Because of the low availability and doctor hesitation to recommend the anti-venom, many individuals that could have undergone a quicker recovery with the help of the anti-venom had to wait out the pain of the scorpion venom. As death from the scorpion sting is rare, the approval will not so much save lives in the United States as it will reduce suffering. It will also reduce the anxiety of worried parents. Seeing a child’s eyes roll back into their heads and their bodies begin convulsing is a horrific scene no parent wishes to endure.

Further, with the FDA approval, the anti-venom should become more available. Drug companies can now begin to officially supply the anti-venom and not worry about producing a medicine that may never make it to market. Knowing that the antidote is readily available will ease the sleeping of a lot of scorpion troubled homes.

What can home owners do to prevent scorpions?

Regular service around the exterior of a home is the first and foremost step in scorpion control. Whether you hire a professional pest control service or do your own home maintenance, consistency is the key. Scorpions trouble neighborhoods. We will never be able to rid an entire neighborhood of scorpions. So to keep the scorpions at bay with a regular treatment, do it yourself or call a professional.

After a regular treatment, additional precautions would be glue traps placed in corners. Glass jars placed around the base of beds and especially cribs. Scorpion seals also create an additional barrier. Treating moisture points in the yard is advised. And treating around pool equipment helps.

It is also advised for those that have allergic reactions to carry an Epinephrine Injection.

Related articles

• FDA Approves First Scorpion Sting Antidote (fda.gov)
• FDA OKs first-ever treatment for scorpion stings (seattlepi.com)
• FDA Approves Treatment for Scorpion Bites (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)