Post date: 01-Aug-2010 22:36:08
Colin and I went camping last weekend and we each wore a mosquito patch to try and prevent mosquito bites. The Insect Defend Patch is mostly made up of Vitamin B and doesn't contain Deet like most smelly mosquito repellants. You stick the patch on your arm or leg or whereever you want just as you would stick on a band aid or a stop smoking patch.
Colin placed his patch on his left arm and I placed mine on my right leg. We didn't have a control for our experiment (someone not wearing a patch). I received 2 bites-one on my leg right below the patch and one on my left leg. Colin received 3 bites on the same arm and hand that his patch was on. We didn't receive any other bites from mosquitos or other insects the entire weekend. It's hard to say if these bites were received before the patch kicked in. You're supposed to put it on 2 hours before you are exposed.
The patches last 36 hours but we didn't wear the same patches all weekend. We put new patches on after we showered on Saturday morning. My patch did prevent me from receiving any mosquito bites when I went running on Sunday night and mowed the lawn on Sunday night.
Where to Purchase Insect Defend Patches in Edmonton
I bought ours from the Fisin' Hole - $8.00 for a box of 5 patches. Someone in my yoga class also told me that they are available from Rexall drug stores for $7.00 a box.
We're going to put our patches on right now. We're heading to a barbecue in celebration of Swiss National Day today with some good friends. Since we're following the instructions of putting the patches on two hours before exposure we shouldn't receive any bites.