Across the Caribbean, some of the best parts of community life happen outdoors. Festivals, sporting events, school activities, cultural celebrations, and family gatherings bring people together to celebrate, connect, and enjoy the places they call home. And while mosquitoes are a familiar part of the tropical environment, they don’t have to be the focus of community gatherings. Taking a few simple steps to reduce mosquito exposure can help families and individuals comfortably enjoy the shared experiences that are so important to the Caribbean lifestyle.
Enjoy the Outdoor Events that Bring Caribbean Communities Together
Community gatherings in the Caribbean are one of the ways that culture is created, preserved, and passed from one generation to another. Festivals, carnivals, cultural celebrations, and all types of community gatherings provide opportunities to celebrate the traditions that distinguish one Caribbean island and community from another. Sporting events also bring Caribbean communities together to celebrate healthy competition and foster community identity and pride. These Caribbean community events often include children, parents, grandparents, and extended family, and give neighbors and families the opportunity to strengthen relationships between people who may not otherwise see each other regularly.
All of these community events give people a chance to come together, celebrate where they come from, and feel connected to the people around them. Many of these traditions and gatherings share something else: they happen outdoors. Because Caribbean community life often takes place outdoors, mosquitoes can sometimes interfere with the activities that bring people together. Communities and individuals can take simple steps to reduce mosquito exposure and help protect the people who enjoy these shared spaces.
Mosquitoes are an everyday part of the tropical environment.
Because people may spend several hours outside at a single event and may not notice mosquito exposure until after they’ve been bitten, individuals attending outdoor events should take simple precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes and the vector-borne illnesses they could potentially carry.
- Apply an appropriate insect repellent before heading to an outdoor event
- Follow the product’s label for application and reapplication
- Wear clothing that minimizes exposed skin when practical
- Take advantage of screened or enclosed areas when available
- Choose protection appropriate for the length and conditions of the event
- Parents and caregivers can make applying repellent part of the family’s routine before outdoor activities
Mosquito prevention isn’t only an individual responsibility. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) emphasizes that mosquito control begins at the household and community level. Dr. Lisa Indar with CARPHA says, “mosquito control begins at home, in our schools, in our workplaces, and throughout our communities.”1 Preventing mosquito exposure requires action at multiple levels. Individuals can protect themselves from bites. Families can reduce mosquito breeding opportunities around their homes. Schools and community spaces can participate in prevention. Event organizers, communities, and public health authorities can support cleaner, less mosquito-friendly environments. Dr. Matthew Desaine with CARPHA stated that, “mosquito control is not the responsibility of one ministry, one agency, or one sector alone. It requires shared responsibility and sustained collaboration.”1
Community events work because communities participate together – and mosquito prevention should work the same way. As community-wide efforts help create healthier environments, individuals still have an important role to play when they attend outdoor gatherings. Personal insect protection is a simple step people can take before joining the activities they enjoy.
IMPEDE: Protection for Caribbean Community Life
Whether you’re heading to a community festival, watching a football match, attending a school event, or gathering with family outdoors, applying insect repellent can be a simple part of getting ready. IMPEDE is the premium insect repellent product designed to fit naturally into daily routines of Caribbean residents. With the power of STAYTEC™, a controlled-release technology, IMPEDE is comfortable, easy to apply, odorless, non-greasy, quick drying, and most importantly long-lasting.
With a simple-to-use lotion format, IMPEDE offers improved delivery and purposeful protection that can easily be incorporated into daily routines. Applying IMPEDE before work, school, outdoor activities, and community events can make personal insect protection a simple part of the daily routine.
By providing up to 14 hours of protection from biting insects, like mosquitoes, IMPEDE requires less frequent application and confidence in protection. The lotion format of IMPEDE has been specifically formulated for use in the Caribbean, suited to outdoor activities being sweat- and water-resistant. Using the EPA-registered active ingredient, IR3535®, IMPEDE is suitable for use for children as young as 2 months old, pregnant women, and those with sensitive skin. As more individuals and families make insect protection part of their everyday routine, these healthy habits become woven into the community itself.
Outdoor community events are part of the culture, connection, and everyday life of the Caribbean. While mosquitoes are a reality of the tropical environment, simple prevention habits can help families spend less time worrying about bites and more time enjoying the people and traditions that bring Caribbean communities together. IMPEDE provides individuals and families with one practical way to reduce their exposure to biting insects and comfortably enjoy Caribbean community life.
Choose IMPEDE: Protect Yourself. Protect Your Caribbean Community.