Spending time outdoors is a wonderful way to bond with family and friends, and enjoy nature. But before you head into the great outdoors, you need to be aware of a danger lurking in the woods—Lyme disease. This bacterial infection is contracted after coming in contact with a tick that has fed on another infected animal. While outside, use these tips to avoid coming in contact with ticks:
- Wear light-colored clothing to make identifying ticks easier. Spray yourself with insect repellent.
- Wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants when in wooded areas. Walk in the center of trails to avoid overhanging trees or bushes.
- Keep long hair tied back to keep ticks from climbing up your hair and attaching to your scalp.
- Wash your body and clothing, and inspect your body for ticks afterward. Inspect your dog’s fur if they have been playing in wooded areas.
Removing a Tick
Bacteria from tick bites do not transmit into your bloodstream for 36 to 48 hours, which lessens your chance of contracting Lyme disease if you find ticks and remove them immediately.
If you find a tick on your body, use tweezers to grab the tick firmly where it has entered the skin. Slowly, yet firmly, pull the tick directly outward. Once the tick is removed, clean the bite thoroughly with a disinfectant and watch the area for a rash shaped like a bull’s-eye occurring within 30 days at the site of the bite. The rash may also be accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
Consult a healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease.