6 AUGUST 2017 ARCAD A NEWS By Ira Ungar, MD Now that summer’s here, encounters with insects can increase dramatically. Every time someone asks me about an insect bite, the next question is usually: “What kind of spider bit me?” I cringe for the poor innocent spiders. SPIDERS: In Arizona, only three have the jaw strength to bite us. One is the tarantula, which is very big and easily avoided. I’ve seen very few tarantula bites in my career. More common is the black widow. You’re usually bitten when you’re not careful where you put your hands or other parts of your body. If you look closely, you can get a warning if a black widow is present because its web looks like someone with schizophrenia made it. It’s all over the place. If you want to check your property, go out at night with a flashlight — you’ll see them hanging in the middle of their webs. They’re shiny black with a red hourglass on their stomach. The bite itself can cause little discomfort at the site, but hours later you could suffer severe abdominal cramping and spasms of other large muscle groups. You should seek immediate medical attention. The brown recluse tries to avoid people so if you look where you put your hands and other body parts, you can often avoid a bite. It usually causes little discomfort but can result in a very serious sore that you’ll need to have examined. Scorpions are a different matter altogether. If you see one…kill it. The easiest way is with a heavy object because not all insect sprays will kill them. They’re likely to charge at you if they think you’re trying to hurt them. If you watch where you’re going, you usually can avoid them. If you’re stung, the pain will be immediate. It can feel like you stepped on a needle. Over the next 30 minutes, you might feel pins and needles running up your arm or leg. The pain usually stops shortly after and can be relieved by taking aspirin or Tylenol. In some cases, however, the symptoms can last for several days. Young children can have very serious symptoms: inability to walk straight or focus, foaming at the mouth and agitation. Seek immediate medical attention. TICKS: Arizona does have them, especially in northern Arizona. Be careful when hiking in high grasses and woods. We generally do not have Lyme disease, but we do have Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other tick-borne diseases. Ticks usually have to be on you for several hours in order to transmit disease, so always check yourself thoroughly once indoors. Wearing insect repellent and long pants is also a good idea. Ticks usually will drop off when rubbed with either gasoline or oil. You can also try to remove them with tweezers. MOSQUITOES: They cause more illness than any other insect. It’s important to prevent their spread and do what you can to prevent bites, such as eliminating standing water around your home. Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. If you need to be outside, don’t wear perfume but do wear insect repellent, long pants and sleeves, and light colors. Many over-the- counter medicines help with discomfort. My favorite is Sting Ease. The most important thing with any bite is preventing a secondary infection. Don’t scratch! If you need to go to the ER, take the insect with you so that it can be identified correctly. — Ira Ungar, MD, specializes in family medicine with HonorHealth Medical Group. Protect yourself from creepy crawlies this summer HEALTHY TIDBITS                !   "#" $ SUNDAY WORSHIP AT 9:30 A.M. We believe: 1. All people are created in God’s image and loved by God no matter what. 2.The hope of the world is found in the work and person of Jesus. 3. God’s table (Holy Communion) is open to everyone. What do you believe? Prince of Peace Preschool features: · Developmentally appropriate learning activities · Christian emphasis in curriculum · Loving, caring and experienced staff www.poppreschool.com It ' s Back To School Time at Prince of Peace PRESCHOOL STARTS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9 Arcadia Music Academy Summer and fall lessons for all ages. We teach piano, violin, guitar, viola, cello, and voice! To register, call 480-945-9537 or email ama@popphoenix.org.

7 AUGUST 2017 ARCAD A NEWS By Michelle Donati Highway fatalities are up, and so are concerns about impaired driving. Crashes involving alcohol are on the rise, as is the number of drivers with other substances in their system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recent National Roadside Survey found 22 percent of weekend drivers tested positive for illegal, prescription or over- the-counter drugs. Americans are driving more miles than ever before, and with more people on the road, it’s imperative that drivers take steps to stay off the road if they are impaired. AAA offers these tips to keep roads safer for drivers, passengers and pedestrians: FOR DRIVERS: Plan ahead so it’s easy to make the right choice if you’re impaired • Choose a designated driver before you go out. Make sure they agree to stay alcohol- and drug-free. • Download a ridesharing app or program your local taxi’s number into your phone. That way, you can get a safe ride if you need one with the touch of a button. • Stay with a friend or book a nearby hotel room if you are impaired. • Visit RoadwiseRX.com, a tool you can use to see how medications affect safe driving. • Take advantage of AAA’s Tipsy Tow, a service that provides a free tow and ride home when Arizona experiences the highest volume of DUI arrest and alcohol- related crashes. FOR HOSTS: Plan parties with safety in mind to minimize liability • Never serve minors. • Offer non-alcoholic drink options and serve plenty of food. • Stop serving alcohol well before the party ends. • Consider using a professional bartender. They can recognize signs of impairment and limit alcohol. • Remind guests to plan ahead and designate a sober driver. • Don’t be afraid to take car keys away from guests who are too impaired to drive. • Help arrange alternate transportation or accommodations for guests who need it. FOR EVERYONE: Take steps to protect yourself • Always wear your seatbelt. Nearly half of all vehicle occupants killed in 2015 were not wearing seat belts, according to NHTSA. • If you spot someone who appears to be an impaired driver when you are on the road, keep a safe distance and call 9-1-1 if it is safe to do so. Do not attempt to stop the vehicle yourself. • Talk to friends and family about the dangers of impaired driving. More than 24,500 DUI arrests were made in Arizona in 2015, according to the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. AAA estimates that a first-time DUI conviction can cost a motorist more than $10,000 in fines, penalties, legal fees and increased insurance costs. — As the leader in driver safety, AAA challenges drivers to pledge to drive drug- and alcohol-free. Visit duijusticelink.aaa.com. Tips to avoid impaired driving Deadline: Friday, August 10th Mermaid sighting in Coronado! See the other entries submitted to our annual summer vacations photo call-out on page 22. ARCADIANEWS.COM / ARCADIAHO.ME September 2016 Vol. 24 No. 6 AWARD WINNING NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS SINCE 1993 Get a preview of 2016 football as Veritas, Brophy and Arcadia share the scoop on their expectations of their players and the season. PAGE 25 Arcadia woman completes a 50-state journey, which she started as a little girl and finished with her own family this summer. Inquiring minds want to know!... and we have all the details about the various development and construction projects in the neighborhood. PAGE 16 PAGE 48 Page 55 Fall means football and Arcadia High School is preparing for a winning season. Page 36 Arcadia resident turns her love of crock-pot cooking into a successful home business. September 2014 Vol. 22 No. 6 AWARD WINNING NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS SINCE 1993 ARCADIANEWS.COM / ARCADIAHO.ME                                     !" LOOK INSIDE! Arcadia Home & Design FALL ISSUE Arcadia resident Sophie Boukatch spent part of her summer swimming with sharks! Read all about her shark conservation efforts on page 40. ARCADIANEWS.COM / ARCADIAHO.ME September 2015 Vol. 23 No. 6 AWARD WINNING NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS SINCE 1993 Friday nights mean Arcadia High School football games. Meet this year’s senior players. PAGE 26 Our annual call for summer vacation photos yielded an impressive variety of worldwide snapshots. Arcadia school principals share their excitement and expectations for the new school year. PAGE 14 PAGE 62 Your photo may be on our September cover! Send your photos to editor@arcadianews.com Be sure to let us know the names of the family or people in the photo, where you went and what you did! SEND US YOUR VACATION PHOTOS! For more information visit www.apexbodyworx.com or call 480-332-3141 Massage and Stretch Therapy Group Stretch Therapy Class Improving daily living through intentional and individualized treatments. These classes cater to ALL body types and levels of function. Stretching for: Sport | Corporate | Longevity | Life Benefits: Pain Relief | Function | Stress | Injury Prevention