Toxic?

[Cane Knife]

Not sure if this is where to post but I'm wondering if a Thermacell in a pop-up blind would be too toxic?  Would you let your young son sit in there with you?

[Zradix]

I wouldn't if my child had asthma for sure.
It's a hard question to answer.
I have been thinking about buying one of these because of all the great reviews.

Your post made me look up the toxic cons of them.

No one ever wants to subject their kids to harm.
I guess I'd have to weigh the chance of the bug's damage to them against the Allethrin damage.

Allethrin is the active ingredient. It's often found is bug sprays too.

Then the question comes...Whats worse putting it on your skin all day or breathing a little?

Maybe it wouldn't need to be used for more than a few minutes every hour or so in a blind.

Maybe a shoot through mesh blind would keep the bugs out without any pesticides.

I'm sorry I have no concrete answer for you.

If the bugs were eating my kids alive I'd use it almost for certain. I'd just use it just enough to keep the bugs off.

My 2¢

[-Achilles-]

I bought 1 of those bug suits and just spray off on it.That way you don't get any on your skin.In a pop up blind really the only thing your keeping away are skeeters anyway.Unless your hunting swamp you shouldnt get many of them.

[ozy clint]

don't forget the carbon monoxide emissions in a confined space. wouldn't be much but it maybe an issue???

[John Scifres]

The concentration of allethrin vapors given off by the Thermacell is really only enough to repel mosquitoes, not kill them.  The lethal concentration is really high in lab tests so I would not worry about it.  I have had my kids in a blind with a Thermacell many times.  I have asthma and have no reaction to the vapors.  CO will not be a concern in a normal hunting blind.

[Brian Krebs]

thermacells and little buddy heaters and other propane run stuff now often have low oxygen cut offs in them. They will not work over a certain altitude because of this.

 If your in a blind or tent and start to get a head ache - open the door and get out - like NOW.

[dragonheart]

I left mine on one time in the vehicle.  I got very sleepy on the drive home.  When I got home I discovered that the thermacell was on.  Only about a 20 minute drive.  I hang mine just out side the window of a  popup blind, not inside with me.

[maineac]

I would lay it on the ground outside.  It should keep the bugs away so they don't fly in the windows, but hopefully it wouldn't come in.

[Tucson-John]

The intelligent thing to do would be to isolate the individual materials and then determine if they present a toxic issue. A "Brand name" can change ingredients, etc.

It's only my opinion but exposure even to toxic materials depend on certain factors such as type, longevity, and method of exposure.

[Hill Hunter]

I ran mine in the ground blind last year one time, i did not like the way it made me feel.

[Plumber]

I had mine on in the treestand the other night .the smoke was rising up between my legs. It made my belly feel a little flippy. I shut the thing off.

[dragonheart]

Anything that you are inhaling that is making you feel different is toxic, or changing your system.  I would avoid prolonged exposure in a confined space.  My experience ina vehicle in a 20 minute drive home made me almost fall asleep at the wheel.  I tend to think that cannot be all that healthy.

[swampdrummer]

I had mine hanging on a tree branch right by my head earlier this season. Had the smoke blowing directly in my face for 3-4 hours. Forehead and cheeks broke out in a rash and my eyes about swelled shut. I still use it because it does work but I'm a bit more carefull about where it is in relation to the prevailing wind.