Besides being a pest, these bloodsuckers can transmit serious and sometimes fatal diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Take the following precautions before heading into heavily wooded areas.
Wear a hat, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, tucked into your pants.
Step2
Spray exposed body areas with tick repellent (DEET).
Step3
Stay on groomed trails, and avoid walking in brush.
Step4
Search your entire body for ticks after walking in wooded areas. Pay special attention to the areas behind your knees and your groin area.
Step5
Remove any ticks you find right away. If you act quickly you may be able to avoid contracting Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Tips & Warnings
If you live in a wooded area, talk to your doctor about a vaccine called LYMErix, which helps to prevent Lyme disease in some people.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is usually contracted on the East Coast of the United States but has been reported in 47 states.
Ticks that carry these diseases are most frequently encountered during the summer.
Avoid using repeated applications of repellents containing DEET on children. It is safe when used according to directions, but isn't meant for long-term (every day) use and should be kept away from eyes and mouth.
See your doctor if a rash develops where you remove a tick or if you find one a day after you believe you were exposed.
on 11/22/2005
In my area, eastern Washington State in the USA, "tick season" begins with the first hot days of summer and ends after the last hot days -- usually late August.
on 11/22/2005
Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Wear light colors, this way if a tick does get on you, you will be able to see them. Don't forget to tuck in your socks.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 In my area, eastern Washington State in the USA, "tick season"
begins with the first hot days of summer and ends after the last hot days -- usually late August.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Wear light colors, this way if a tick does get on you, you will be able to see them. Don't forget to tuck in your socks.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Ticks like to hide in dark, warm, hard to reach places. It is always good to have a travel mirror handy to check these types of areas