Healthy travels

Healthy travels

Jan 17, 2019

Travelling is wonderful, but it is not without certain risks. Infectious diseases lurk in subtropical and tropical regions.

  1. Good personal hygiene is your best weapon in the fight against bacteria.
  2. Do not drink tap water.
  3. Do not touch animals. Dogs, cats, bats and monkeys can be infected with rabies.

Wash your hands

Vaccinations provide good protection, but not from all infectious diseases. Good personal hygiene is your best weapon in the fight against bacteria! This starts with washing your hands. Do this often and thoroughly. In any case, wash your hands and wrists before cooking, eating and after visiting the toilet. Dirty nails? Clean them with a brush! Dry your hands with something very clean, like a paper towel. Or keep them under hot air blower (do not touch!)

Effective for cleaning your hands: a good hand gel, like Care Plus Pro Hygiene Gel. Handy for on the road, because Pro Hygiene Gel can be used without water.

Safe drinking water

Drinking tap water in Western Europe and North America is not usually a problem. In other regions, you need to take precautionary measures to make drinking water safe. Water can be contaminated. Microorganisms can cause infectious diseases, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhoea is the most common problems.

There are several methods to make drinking water safe:

  1. Disinfecting with Care Plus Hadex®, a drinking water disinfectant approved by the Dutch government (kills bacteria and viruses).
  2. Microfiltration (removes protozoa and bacteria, depending on the filter).
  3. Boiling the water (kills all microorganisms)

Cleansing hand gel

Care Plus® cleansing hand gel gives your hands a clean and fresh feeling.

Personal hygiene

Care Plus® supplies handy products for personal hygiene.

Organic Soap

Care Plus® Clean Bio Soap is a concentrated biodegradable soap made from organic ingredients.

Water hygiene

Care Plus® supplies handy products for water hygiene.

Jellyfish on the Dutch coast

Jellyfish on the Dutch coast

Jul 17, 2018

With temperatures around 28 degrees, we will be heading for the beach en masse this weekend. But watch out for jellyfish! The easterly wind brings them to shore and the beaches will be full of jellyfish.

Many species of jellyfish can sting painfully when they come into contact with people. Jellyfish stings can cause pain, swelling, itchiness, and redness of the skin. Our special Care Plus® Sun Protection Everyday Lotion provides high protection from the sun and most jellyfish stings. Read here about jellyfish repellent technology.

Preventing a jellyfish sting

Many species of jellyfish can sting painfully when they come into contact with people. Jellyfish stings can cause pain, swelling, itchiness, and redness of the skin. The severity of the complaints depends on the type of jellyfish and the amount of poison is injected. Care Plus® Sun Protection Everyday Lotion not only protects against the harmful effects of the sun, but also against most jellyfish stings, corals and sea anemones. Care Plus® Sun Protection Everyday Lotion creates a protective barrier over the skin that prevents the jellyfish in recognising the swimmer as potential prey so it won’t inject venom into the skin. In addition, the Care Plus® Sun Protection Everyday Lotion provides a high UV-protection and is waterproof. The active ingredient Panthenol calms and soothes the skin. The cream is clinically tested by dermatologists and suitable for children.

 

Jellyfish repellent technology

Care Plus® Sun Protection Everyday Lotion patented technology is based on the clownfish, known from the Disney film Finding Nemo. Scientists were fascinated that clownfish appeared to swim past anemones unharmed. The sea anemone, related to the jellyfish, uses venomous harpoons to hunt fish. Upon further examination, the clownfish’s secret appeared to be a mucus layer on the skin. Sea anemones simply did not recognise the clownfish as prey due to this mucus layer and did not inject venomous harpoons into its skin. This special mucus layer became the basis of further research into inhibitors to prevent jellyfish stings.

More attention for the tick

More attention for the tick

Jun 3, 2018

More than 1.500.000 tick bites are registered per year in the Netherlands and they can be dangerous. More than 20% of these blood-thirsty creatures are infected with Borrelia bacteria, which can cause Lyme disease. So, prevent those nast tick bites! To raise awareness of the shadow-side of sunny days, there is The Week of the Tick. From 13 to 19 April, the focus is on ticks, tick bites and especially on prevention. Care Plus® has a whole range of products – from sprays with and without DEET to impregnated socks – that keep the tick at bay. This is necessary, because 1.2 million people are bitten annually in the Netherlands. Step one to reducing the number of bites is awareness.

Tick visit

Not every tick bite leads to Lyme disease, but it does increasingly happen, including in our country. At least 22,000 people in the Netherlands are infected every year. In the months when the sun is shining, and we all go outside, the tick is also most active. From its sheltered environment in tall grass, bushes or heathland, it searches for humans and animals to suck their blood like a little vampire. Such a tick visit can take up to three days; a short stay during which the parasite not only gorges itself with blood, but can also leave bacteria. If the tick is infected with Borellia, it can cause Lyme disease. Reason enough to think about what is hiding in the bush on nice days and to take precautions.

Mini spray in your pocket

Are you going for a long hike on a beautiful spring or summer day? Tuck your trousers in your socks! Care Plus® has specially impregnated Bugsox that protects ankles and feet against mosquitoes and ticks. In addition, these seamless walking socks are comfortable and keep your feet fresh for longer, even at high temperatures. DEET is your best friend. This insect repellent not only keeps msoquitoes at bay, but it also works against ticks. Care Plus® has products with 30%, 40% and 50% DEET that comply with the strict requirements of the EU Biocidal Products Regulation. Would you rather not use DEET? Care Plus® Anti-Insect Natural has proven effective against ticks. It is made with lemon eucalyptus extracts and protects up to six hours. New in our Natural and DEET ranges are the mini sprays. Easy to put in your pocket!

Stop the tick

Tropicare CEO Arnoud Aalbersberg is a great advocate of awareness concerning ticks and tick bites; ”It is important for people to realise that you don’t have to go abroad to contract nasty diseases. A tick ignores borders and does occur in the Netherlands. We provide information and tips on how to protect yourself against ticks. When are they active? Where do they live? And especially: what can you do to prevent a bite or infection with Lyme disease. With this knowledge, we can go out and enjoy the summer!”

Insects on the menu?

Insects on the menu?

Mar 23, 2018

Stings and bites are unpleasant, and sometimes even dangerous. That is why we have been marketing insect repellents for over 20 years. You may be surprised to learn that we love insects too, on our plates!

The global population is increasing. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) predicts that by 2050, 70 percent more food will have to be produced in order to provide everyone with healthy food. This situation requires a new perspective on our diet.

 

Insects: mostly annoying, sometimes dangerous, but also tasty!

Stings and bites are unpleasant, and sometimes even dangerous. That is why we have been marketing insect repellents for over 20 years. You may be surprised to learn that we love insects too, on our plates! Eating insects, with or without venomous jaws and poisonous stings, is called entomophagy.

Boiled, fried, baked, roasted, raw or even alive… in many countries, it is normal to eat insects and even regarded a delicacy. In Europe people think differently and eating insects is considered crazy and scary. We find that unfortunate because insects on the menu offer so many advantages. Insects (and larvae) are a source of protein and the quality is comparable to meat, but the breeding of insects is much more sustainable than meat production.

het insectenkookboekAre you ready for a new way of cooking? We recommend the caramelised grasshoppers from the Insect Cookbook.

Caramelised grasshoppers

  • 2 tbs (hazelnut) oil
  • ½ punnet of grasshoppers (+/-16 pieces) without wings or legs
  • 2 tbs sugar

Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the grasshoppers golden brown in a few minutes. Add the sugar and keep stirring until the sugar also turns golden brown; this takes about 4 minutes. Careful, it goes very quick now. If it turns dark brown it is burnt and will taste bitter. Caution: caramel becomes extremely hot, do not lick the spoon! Leave everything to cool down and treat your guests to a sweet snack. Great with a cup of tea or combined with a sweet dessert.