| Why? To save yourself grief. And pain. ENSURE | | | | sales tax revenues.You see, this Valley Fever bug |
| your Arizona vacation safety. Learn about safety | | | | usually only becomes a problem when a person |
| issues NOT found in the travel brochures or | | | | who hasn't had Valley Fever comes in contact |
| vacation websites.You see, when on vacation in | | | | with it.And a person comes in contact with it by |
| Arizona there are a few things that one should be | | | | breathing the bug in.And the bug is found in soils |
| aware of when visiting here. These are the type | | | | that are not old and dried out, but rather soils |
| of things that you won't read about in those slick | | | | that are newly disturbed.So, how can you protect |
| brochures you find in the travel agent's | | | | yourself with regards to this vacation safety tip? |
| office.These are the only things that one will learn | | | | Easy.Do all you can to stay away from soil |
| about by living here for an extended period of | | | | disturbing activities.* Like to visit new construction |
| time.Let's face it. It's a real downer to not have a | | | | sites on your vacations?* Like to do local |
| safe vacation. It's not fun to spend a night in the | | | | gardening?* Like to take up archaeology as a |
| local emergency room with the kids when they | | | | hobby when you're on vacation?One word of |
| get sick from eating some bad local food or have | | | | advice... DON'T.Essentially, don't go digging around |
| an accident. Not fun indeed.But, these vacation | | | | places or near digging activities that you shouldn't |
| safety tips I'm going to share are not about the | | | | be around. At least not while on vacation here in |
| infrequent accidents that do happen on vacation. | | | | Phoenix.I know, I know, why would you go on |
| The vacation safety tips I'll be sharing here | | | | one of your southwest vacations in Arizona just |
| involve things that are totally preventable.As long | | | | to dig in the soil, right? Silly me.Well, just so you |
| as one is aware of them first.So, let's get started | | | | know. I got Valley Fever the first year I moved |
| with vacation safety tips that'll help you have a | | | | here. It progressed on to walking pneumonia and |
| safer vacation here in Arizona.1. The first of these | | | | left scars on my lungs. I was lucky that that's all |
| vacation safety tips is for you to be aware of | | | | that happened to me.And what was I doing to be |
| where you go when you're vacationing in Phoenix. | | | | exposed to the bug? Just some simple landscaping |
| Phoenix is a big place and like most big cities it has | | | | in my desert landscaped yard.See? It doesn't take |
| areas of the city that are not too upscale.Now, | | | | much.So, just do your vacation planning while |
| what are you to do about this?Well, just realize | | | | keeping this vacation safety tip in mind. Let's not |
| that there are certain places within a big city like | | | | have you getting sick on us. Okay?3. The last of |
| Phoenix that one should be extra careful about | | | | these vacation safety tips applies to most of |
| visiting.If you find yourself in a part of town that | | | | Arizona. This one is about bugs too. But this is |
| has a lot of run-down houses, properties with | | | | about a different type of bug.The real |
| garbage strewn around them, and abandoned | | | | thing...Scorpions and Black Widows.Why is this one |
| cars parked along the streets - then common | | | | of our vacation safety tips? Because these little |
| sense should tell you that these neighborhoods | | | | critters can be a nasty safety issue when you |
| are not too safe.Trust that instinct. I'd suggest | | | | vacation here and get bitten by one of them.You |
| you find other areas of the city to visit or drive | | | | see, these two bugs are extremely common |
| around.You see, Phoenix has, in my opinion, a high | | | | here in the state. Not quite as common as |
| crime rate.I moved here from Canada twelve | | | | cockroaches, but almost. Why? Because it's a |
| years ago. What truly shocked me when I moved | | | | desert here and they're desert creatures.They |
| here was that Phoenix had more murders occur | | | | like the heat and they like dark cozy places. So, |
| in two months than where I used to live had in a | | | | when you vacation Arizona just be aware that |
| year. And I lived in, at the time, the 'murder | | | | these little critters do like to live in places that the |
| capital of Canada'.So, just do yourself a favor | | | | kids may go probing around in. Don't let them do |
| with this vacation safety tip and stay aware of | | | | that.Keep probing hands away from dark crevices |
| your surroundings. If it doesn't look like a good | | | | both inside and outside the house, rental, villa, |
| place to be - it probably isn't.Trust your gut and | | | | hotel or apartment.And if someone does get bit, |
| get out of there.2. The second of these vacation | | | | err on the side of caution and call the local poison |
| safety tips involves somewhat of a local health | | | | control center ASAP and ask for help.Oh, and by |
| issue. I'll explain...The entire metropolitan Phoenix | | | | the way, unlike the Hollywood horror movie |
| area is located within a large valley. It's surrounded | | | | depictions, these bugs are NOT half the size of a |
| by mountains and mountain ranges. And within this | | | | horse. They're SMALL. Black widows are maybe |
| valley is a certain type of 'bug' that lives in the | | | | half an inch long. And scorpions get 'as big as' two |
| soil.Actually, this bug issue is similar to most other | | | | inches. But... scorpions are FAST. And both can |
| country's bugs (e.g. Canada's Beaver Fever bug, | | | | HURT you big time.So, please ensure vacation |
| Mexico's 'don't drink the water' type bug) because | | | | safety for your family. Stay away from places |
| it's a bug indigenous to Arizona.And what does this | | | | these critters habitate. And when you get up in |
| bug do? It wreaks havoc on a persons health | | | | the dark in the middle of the night to get a drink |
| when a vacationing visitor is infected with it. In | | | | of water - wear slippers. Just in case.So, to sum |
| our case, this bug causes what is known as Valley | | | | up...Don't get paranoid about these vacation safety |
| Fever.And how does one get infected with Valley | | | | tips.Go vacation.Have fun. Just keep your eyes |
| Fever? By breathing in the microscopic spores | | | | open to possible vacation safety concerns. Simple, |
| that make up this nasty bacteria.And what does | | | | right?.Anyway, I hope these vacation safety tips |
| this bacteria do to a person when breathed in? | | | | prove helpful to you. Do have a safe trip here to |
| Well, it can cause flu-like symptoms that grow all | | | | Arizona. Just improve your vacation safety by |
| the way up to pneumonia, internal bleeding, and | | | | ensuring you remember these vacation safety |
| very, very rarely... death (gulp).Now, I'm NOT | | | | tips I've shared with you.Good luck.Written by |
| trying to scare you. So don't go cancelling your | | | | Andre Best |
| vacation plans to Phoenix......Because we need your | | | | President, Ultimate Results, Inc. |