No matter where you are, camping, in the woods, or right in your own backyard, you are at risk for getting a tick. Here’s a few tips on how to help you stay Lyme Disease-free this summer.
1) Wear light colored clothing when outside. This can both keep you cool in te summer heat and help you spot dark-colored ticks on your clothing. Be sure to tuck pant legs into your socks. This helps keep ticks from crawling up your legs or into your shoes.
2) If you’re outside for more than a few minutes, use an insect repellent that contains DEET. This helps reduce your chances of tick bites. Apply this ONLY to skin that is exposed and not under your clothing. DEET is strong and needs to be put only in places where the skin can “breathe.”
3) Every night, after shower/bath time, be sure to do a tick check on everyone that was outside. Remember to check under your arms, between the legs, around the waist, inside the belly button, around the hairline, all over your scalp, and between your toes. It’s easier to remove a tick after a shower/bath. Using a magnifying glass is also extremely helpful since most ticks are the size of a poppy seed.
