osana bar mosquito repellent soap road trip

Emergency Supplies for the Car and Road Trips

osana bar mosquito repellent soap road trip

No one ever plans for an emergency to happen, but are grateful they have the right supplies when they do. Especially in the dead of winter, you never know when a break down situation may come along. Simpy having a few items already stocked in the car can literally be life saving.

Creating a small bag with the following items will set you up for success and ease your mind if trouble comes along.

Year-Round Items:

  1. Money or Credit Card. Keeping extra money will allow you to pay for unexpected charges: food, hotel, some way to pay for roadside assistance.
  2. Spare Tire. Before every road trip, check your spare tire to make sure it’s properly inflated.
  3. Soap: To wash your hands after repairs or before to eat. Use anti mosquito soap for a dual purpose item!
  4. Tools. Carrying a small toolbox, containing items like screwdrivers, duct tape, Allen wrenches and a hammer will help you repair not only your car but other vacation-related items.
  5. Flashlight. This can be used to signal for help, and provide light for night repairs.
  6. Water. It is great to have a 24-hour period supply of water, plus extra for your radiator.
  7. Emergency Contact List. If your cell phone dies, it is great to have important numbers still on hand.
  8. First Aid Kit. You can purchase a pre-packaged kit or create one from supplies you have at home. Or learn how to make one here.
  9. Food. Bring along nonperishable items such as beef jerky and granola bars. If you’re traveling a long distance in a remote area, also bring canned food items and a hand-cranked can opener.
  10. Matches. Matches are great to start a fire, or light a candle or lantern.
  11. Comfortable Walking Shoes. If you have to leave your vehicle, it’s better to do so in shoes that can go for miles.
  12. Pen and Paper. If you need to leave a note on your windshield or give information to someone, you’ll be glad you brought a pen and paper along.
  13. Jumper Cables. You can use these to jump start your car or to help someone else that you come across.

Winter Items:

Blankets. Bring a couple of warm blankets along in case you break down in freezing weather.

Sand:  If you get stuck in snow or ice, sand can improve the car’s traction and help you drive forward. Spread in front of the wheel that slips.

Shovel. Use this to dig your car out.

Warm Clothing: Don’t ever leave home without a warm jacket, hat and gloves.


osana woman mountains field natual mosquito repellent soap

Not Just for Camping

osana woman mountains field natual mosquito repellent soap

It’s easy to think about using a natural mosquito repellent soap when you’re packing the tents and sleeping bags into the car for a weekend camping trip. Indeed, such soaps are a great amenity on such wilderness excursions. Not only are they long lasting, but they also have the power to withstand sweat and rain – two things that can significantly compromise other forms of insect repellents.

However, naturally repelling soaps aren’t designed solely to be used for woodland adventures. They certainly do repel mosquitoes on the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails, or in the woods out behind the house. But they also repel mosquitoes in the garden, on the urban bike path, in the city park. The applications for such a soap are endless, and applying an insect repellent has never been so easy and painless.

Here is a list of 6 activities that can be improved with a mosquito repelling soap:

  1. House/Yard Work: Have you ever been working around the house, garage, or yard at dusk or dawn? The mosquitoes can be absolutely relentless, and all you’re trying to do is finish painting that fence, or weeding the vegetable garden, or mowing the lawn.
  2. Golf / Disc Golf: We all end up in pretty thick into the brush at some point. Just think, the next time you hit a wicked slice off the tee, or throw a nasty Anny right into that obnoxious tree line, maybe you won’t be some happy mosquitoes biggest meal of the day.
  3. Fishing: Be it river fishing or lake fishing, those mosquitoes are bound to be a problem some time. Keep both hands on the reel, and off the back of your neck and calves.
  4. Leisurely Walks/Bike Rides:  It’s the same as with the yard work: dusk and dawn are danger zones when it comes to mosquito feeding activity. Unfortunately, those can also be beautiful times to observe the skyline from your favorite path, sidewalk, or trail.
  5. Grilling: Another common occasion to be outdoors at the optimal mosquito biting time – sunset. Burn a few less citronella candles while you’re preparing the meal, and instead light those Tiki Torches when your friends arrive.
  6. Movies/Jazz in the Park: When the blankets cover the grass almost entirely, chances are you’re going to be in pretty close proximity to some other families. You might not want to risk that mosquito spray when there is a chance that it could be caught in the wind and end up in an unsuspecting eye.

Pick up some Osana today and always have it on hand for fun, travel, or even daily use!


Mosquito Up Close

Summer Camp: A Mosquito’s Dream Come True

Mosquito Up Close

It’s that time of year again, time to pack the kids up and ship them off to summer camp. Maybe they are heading off to music camp, or archery camp, or a sports based camp. Maybe it’s only a day camp, or maybe they will be off in the wilderness for weeks on end. Whatever the case, it is important that young campers are equipped with the means to ward off those pesky insects that can put such a damper on their fun.

Dangers of Mosquitoes

The dangers of mosquitoes should not be overlooked. Not only will their bites leave an otherwise happy and peacefully sleeping camper irritated and unable to resist the temptation to itch their bites while lying awake in the tent or cabin, but they also carry the potential threat of malaria, dengue, and, most recently, chikungunya.

So, when you are packing up the bags – making sure to include extra batteries for the flashlights, and a few self-addressed, stamped envelopes for those letters you hope you’ll receive – it’s important that you include some insect repellents. However, make sure to pay attention to the camp’s guidelines for what to – and not to – pack. Some summer camps have policies regarding bug spray, fearing the potential dangers of chemical-based products in aerosol cans in the hands of young campers.

Natural insect repellents can be a great alternative, and a great solution to this potential problem. Osana insect repelling soap can also provide a great base to protect against those troublesome insects. Start having your child wash with Osana soap three days before you drop them off, pack a fresh bar in their backpack (maybe an extra one for that poor counselor), and remind them to shower daily with it.


children india sanitation

The Importance of Sanitation

children india sanitation

As you know, Osana is passionate about providing that sudsy solution. We donate a bar of our all-natural mosquito repelling soap with every purchase to our community partners abroad that are battling these sanitation issues right now. Currently, we have partners in Tanzania, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and Haiti.

Also, with organizations like UNICEF, ONE, LifeStraw, and many others, tangible and positive impacts are being made daily. We would love to highlight these incredible organizations for all the changes they are accomplishing.

Last year alone, UNICEF’s efforts provided nearly 14 million people with clean water and over 11 million people with basic toilets.

ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organization working to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases, particularly in Africa. They have helped to secure about $37.5 billion for historic health initiatives.

Operating in a similar fashion as Osana, LifeStraw produces a filtration device that easily makes contaminated water safe to drink and sells these products to the general public, which enables the company to send filtration straws to developing countries. To date, LifeStraw has given 369,341 students in Kenya and India clean water.

We are so impressed by what these organizations are accomplishing and what we at Osana are contributing as well.

In fact, the World Health Organization has partnered with UNICEF to end preventable child deaths from pneumonia and diarrhea by 2025 according to their integrated global action plan.

With your support, we at Osana can help that goal be achieved. And wouldn’t that be wonderful?


References:
“Sanitation.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization, June 2015. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.

“Drinking-water.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization, June 2015. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.

“The Issues Affecting Global Poverty: Water & Sanitation.” ONE. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.

“Show Me the Science – Why Wash Your Hands?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Nov. 2015. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.

“About ONE.” ONE. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.

“Follow the Liters.” LifeStraw. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.

“Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.” UNICEF. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2016.


Diseases from Poor Sanitation

Diseases Poor Sanitation

Have you ever walked into a bathroom and felt privileged? Have you ever acknowledged how lucky you are to have clean water and a toilet that disposes of your waste? 2.3 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation. 650 million people live without safe water. The diseases from poor sanitation can be altering. Fortunately, these diseases and deaths are preventable. Simple solutions such as cleaner water and access to soap can make a world of difference.

Diseases from Poor Sanitation

One of the effects of poor sanitation is disease. Some of the most common are diarrhea, cholera, arsenicosis, typhoid, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries. They affect populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors and livestock. These include: guinea worm disease, buruli ulcer, trachoma, and schistosomiasis.

Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world. It is caused by ocular infection with the bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis. It is endemic in fifty-one countries and is responsible for the visual impairment of 1.8 million people with 0.5 million being irreversibly blind. Infection spreads through personal contact such as hands and clothes. It thrives in living conditions that are crowded, lack adequate sanitation, and where flies are considerably present.

Diarrhea is the most important public health problem directly related to water and sanitation. It is caused by a variety of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and protozoans. About 4 billion cases of diarrhea cause 1.8 million deaths per year. Over ninety percent, or 1.6 million, are among children under the age of five.

Buruli ulcer is a chronic debilitating skin and soft tissue infection that can lead to permanent disfigurement and disability. It has been reported in thirty-three countries with tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates such as Africa, South America, and Western Pacific regions. Countries such as Japan, China, and Australia have not seen cases of buruli ulcer. Most patients are under the age of fifteen and at least eighty percent of cases detected early can be cured with a combination of antibiotics.

Cholera is an acute, diarrheal caused by the infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae. Cholera is usually found in water or food sources that have been contaminated by feces from a person infected with cholera. Cholera is mainly found in places with inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene. Around 3-5 million people cases and over 100,000 deaths occur each year around the world. Cholera is a major cause of diarrhea throughout the developing world. A global pandemic in Asia, Africa, and Latin America has been ongoing for the past four decades.

The Worlds Sanitation

About forty percent of the world’s population lacks adequate sanitation practices including access to a proper toilet. Open defecation in streets and fields causes bacteria and microbes that can seep into the groundwater and contaminate it. Thus, this can lead to deadly diseases such as diarrhea. The numbers below are from the World Health Organization/UNICEF joint monitoring program.

  • India- 818 million
  • China- 607 million
  • Indonesia- 109 million
  • Nigeria- 103 million
  • Pakistan- 98 million
  • Bangladesh-75 million
  • Ethiopia- 71 million
  • Dominic Republic of Congo- 50 million
  • Brazil-39 million
  • Tanzania- 32 million
  • Sudan-27 million
  • Kenya- 27 million
  • Vietnam-22 million
  • Phillipines-22 million
  • Nepal-20 million
  • Ghana-20 million

The reasons for a lack of sanitation vary greatly depending on the area, people, situation, and etc. However, some common causes of poor sanitation can be: lack of clean water, lack of proper toilet, infrastructure (no adequate sewage system), lack of resources (being able to afford access to proper sanitation such as toilets, soap, etc.), knowledge (no knowledge of proper sanitation practices), little government involvement, and etc.

Preventing Sanitation Based Disease

The effects of poor sanitation can be deadly and may seem like an uphill battle, but all is not lost. Organizations such as Osana have developed a simple solution to help curb the sanitation based illness crisis: soap. Soap can be a game changer and lifesaver in this war on health. Actions as simple as washing your hands not only prevent the spread of disease, but also can cut diarrheal diseases by thirty-sex percent.

Furthermore, soap is a cost effective way to make a big difference in countries that lack sanitation. Besides hand washing, soap can be a cleaning agent in regard to personal hygiene as well. Regular baths with Osana mosquito repellant soap can also help reduce mosquito borne diseases such as malaria, which causes about one million child deaths.

Proper sanitation and hygiene do not have to be a lost cause. With the proper knowledge, action, and soap, the citizens of said countries can live a healthier and cleaner life. Soap may not solve all the sanitation problems of the world, but it is a step in the right direction that can make a difference and restore dignity.


Reggie Lemmen Osana soap bar mosquito-repellent

Donating Mosquito Repellent Soap to those affected by Hurricane Dorian

Reggie Lemmen Osana soap bar mosquito-repellent

Osana recently donated our Mosquito Repellent Soap to those affected by Hurricane Dorian. We shipped over 500 bars to friends Reggie Lemmen and Ronna Mason and with the assistance of their local Sebring Elks Lodge, participated in the collection of supplies destined for the Bahamas.

Osana Soap is safe for the entire family, smells great, and really works! Our Natural Mosquito Repellent is safe for the entire family, smells great, and really works!

You can help those affected by disasters like Hurricane Dorian by heading over to the Red Cross website and making a donation!


Wash Off the Bait - Mosquito Repellent Soap

Wash OFF Their Bait!

Wash Off The Bait with Osana Mosquito Repellent Soap

Wash Off the Bait - Mosquito Repellent Soap

Mosquito repellent resistance is becoming more and more of a thing. Studies have shown 50% of mosquitoes can be immune to DEET after being exposed to it. A cocktail of various toxic bug sprays is no silver bullet either (doing so however can repel your loved ones and possibly result in you getting sprayed down with the garden hose).

During this wet season, the best chance for avoiding the buzz and bite of mosquitoes is to wash off the attractants and replace them with repellents.

One of the biggest problems with mosquito sprays is that they don’t do anything to wash off the mosquito attractants that your body naturally produces and the bacteria that hangs out on your skin. Bug sprays try to cover up the odors, and some do a better job than others, but it’s like covering a steak in dirt and putting it in front of your dog. Sure, the dog won’t enjoy the dirty steak, but you better believe he’ll dig through a pile of that dirt to get at what he wants.

Your first step toward hiding from mosquitoes should be to wash off the smells that draw them in. If washing off odors doesn’t hide you enough from mosquitoes, you could be a genetic mosquito magnet or be suffering from a mosquito zombie apocalypse, and you’re going to need to combine your mosquito repellency options.   Bottom line is the best strategy is to remove those attractants, evaluate if you need additional protection, and then find the healthiest option possible.

But keeping the attractants on your skin is NOT a solid strategy for keeping mosquitoes away.

Time and again, we have found that washing with Osana prevented bug bites, and created a preference by mosquitoes for those who had skin and body odor attractants compared to those who didn’t.  We won’t hold it against you if don’t share the secret of Osana Soap with others!

Right now we’re offering a pre-season sale of our Master Pack with Free Shipping. You can check it out right here.  


Mosquito Chikungunya Virus

Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?

Mosquito Chikungunya Virus

It would be one thing if mosquitoes simply flew around your face and fearlessly endeavored to suck your blood all the livelong day, but why do mosquito bites itch so much? We breakdown the science for you below!

When a mosquito chomps down on your big toe, it pierces through your skin in order to draw blood with its straw-like mouth, which is called a proboscis, in case you were wondering. During this process, the Dracula of insects injects a bit of its own saliva, which contains an anticoagulant. This prevents your blood from clotting around the proboscis, thereby cementing the insect on your big toe with its mouth still in your flesh. Fun, right?

The wonder that is your immune system recognizes that this mosquito saliva does not belong in your big toe, or anywhere else in your body for that matter. So, your body attacks it, releasing histamine, which causes smooth muscles to contract and capillaries to dilate in order to dispel the mosquito saliva. It’s this histamine reaction that causes the unpleasant itching.

So, it’s not really the mosquito’s bite that causes our big toes to itch, but rather it’s our bodies’ response to the bite. A bittersweet relationship indeed…

This incredible response system is also the reason why the saliva injection site swells and becomes red: because the histamine makes those blood capillaries enlarge.

However, not everybody necessarily notices these effects of swelling or even the itch. According to Dr. Day, a medical entomologist at the University of Florida in Vero Beach, over time adults may develop a tolerance to mosquito bites. Personally, I have yet to experience this tolerance or encounter anyone with this wildly useful superpower. But here’s to hoping!

Until that day comes, though, we still have Osana’s All-Natural Mosquito Repelling Soap to protect us from the dreaded mosquito bite, the itchiness that follows and also the diseases that can tag along with it!

Works Cited:
Rabin, Roni Caryn. “Ask Well: Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?” The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 June 2016. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.


Travel Hacks

Travel Hacks

 

Do you want to find travel hacks for absolutely everything?

Are you the type of person who wants to save money on essentially every aspect of the travel experience?

There is so much information out there about where to travel, when to travel, when to book your tickets, what sites to use, etc. It’s crazy! And truthfully, it can be more than a little overwhelming to keep everything straight.

So, we have put together a short and concise list of the best pages to visit when you’re determined to be a savvy traveller.

  1. First, we’d like to suggest Kayak's 7 Tips For Finding the Lowest Fare Possible. These tips are handy to pretty much everybody.
  2. From finding low fares and cheap food to inexpensive local transportation, Lifehacker's Ultimate Travel Hacking Guide is a great place to start.
  3. Are you a student, or know a student about to spread their wings abroad? Then the Student Travel Planning Guide may be perfect for you.
  4. Are you a hoarder with a propensity for over-packing? This life changing chart from Just Imagine may just help you lose those few pounds from your suitcase and avoid overweight baggage charges.
  5. Traveling with itty bitties? If you’re traveling with children, then these 10 creative hacks from Parenting Magazine may be worth a gander.
  6. In need of some general travel hack advice? These 11 travel hacks and tips let you in on the secrets of surviving long flights, packing your clothes for each day, and so much more!

And as always, before you travel, make sure you are informed as to the health alerts in the area AND that you are properly prepared with an effective, all natural mosquito repellent!

Safe travels and stay safe!

 


Hide in Plain Sight - Osana Mosquito Repellent Soap

Wash Off--Wax on! A Ninja's Guide to Hiding in Plain Sight

Wash Off - Wax On! A Ninja's Guide to Hiding from Mosquitoes!

Did you know that mosquitoes can smell you from up to 200 feet away? They detect the carbon dioxide that we breathe out, then make their way to us. Your body is covered in bacteria, hormones, and odors that mosquitoes love. A recent study even showed that some mosquito species have genetically adapted to smell and bite humans! Mosquitoes in South America that carry the Zika virus are drawn to the smells of the bacteria in ankles and feet. Below is a heat map from a study showing the diversity of bacteria on two specific individuals after not washing for 3 days (a man and a woman). The more red the area is, the more bacteria diversity exists in that area. Mosquitoes are attracted to the odors that come out of the interactions of these bacteria with your body’s sweat.

Heatmap of Bacteria on your body - repel mosquitoes by washing away attractants

While traditional bug spray’s scorched-earth-policy makes mosquito landing sites too toxic to land on, it doesn’t do anything to reduce the presence of bacteria or remove the odors that mosquitoes love. As you can see by the image above, there are bacteria all over your body. This is why mosquitoes keep buzzing around you looking for a place they can land! You are an attractive smorgasbord of scents. News flash: You missed a spot!

The best way to get rid of the buzz and bites is to wash off the odors AND replace them with safe and natural mosquito repellants. Finally you can hide in plain sight and keep mosquitoes in the dark! With Osana Soap this balanced method is the most scientifically effective technique for preventing mosquitoes from swarming around you.

This Christmas, a great dinner conversation piece is the question: “Which would you rather have at a backyard party: “One mosquito bite or one mosquito buzzing six inches from you for two hours?”

Is the buzz worse than the bite? Like the annoying sibling I’m-not-touching-you-game?

Send us a message on Facebook and let us know where you land!


Ghana Children Playing in Water

Natural Mosquito Repellent Helps Hour of Grace Ghana

Not too long ago, a non-profit that Osana partners with, Hour of Grace in Ghana sent this testimonial back in February of 2017 after a volunteer brought 520 bars of natural mosquito repellent soap down with her and personally give them to those that were in desperate need. We thought it was so good we'd share it on our blog! Enjoy!

I frequently volunteer with Hour of Grace Orphanage in Ghana and when I brought them Osana soap the first time, the three smallest children were constantly sick with malaria. The soap very much served its original purpose, and when I went back the second time, there were no crazy fevers or vomiting.

Another really awesome thing is the sanitation it provides. Children who had 10 and 11 ringworm spots only had one or two if they even had any at all when I returned. It was truly a joyful moment to see how clean they were.

When I gave the soap out, I tried to stress how important it is for their health in addition to their nets and how it works. When I went back, I tried to talk to as many kids as I could one on one and get them to show me that they still had their soap. So it is a good opportunity to educate the people it's given to.

I was nervous about getting a "soap again" reaction from the kids (because they're kids), but because they could really see the difference, It helped to make being malaria free an exciting thing, and they knew how important it was, they were so happy to get more. ~Courtney from Osana Bar

Also, the kids at Hour of Grace have something to say!


Osana Mosquito Repellent Soao

REI Co-Op Innovator Series

Osana Mosquito Repellent Body Wash
Osana Bar All-Natural Mosquito Repellent Soap

Thanks for considering Osana for your Innovator Series! Below you’ll find our 3 minute video for our submission!

Also, here is a quick 1 minute overview on Osana.

osana soap that saves