Summer is a great time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather and fresh air, but it is important to keep yourself protected from those pesky summer bugs, and the diseases they carry. Mosquitoes may carry West Nile Virus or the newly discovered Chikungunya illness; while ticks may spread Lyme disease. Here are some helpful tips for keeping yourself safe…
- Use an Effective Insect Repellent :
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends using a product with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, IR 3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. For children, most pediatricians recommend using products with 30% or less of these active ingredients.
- Make your Backyard a Tick-safe Zone:
- Keep your porches, patios and play areas away from bushes, shrubs or other vegetation; also tick control chemicals are available for use by homeowners, or can be applied by a pest control expert.
- Check for Ticks:
- Wishing you a safe and bug-free summer!
- Make it a routine to check for ticks as soon as you come in from outdoors; parents should check themselves and their children, inspecting under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and especially in the hair. If you find a tick, remove it immediately, using fine-tipped tweezers. If a tick is attached to the skin for less than 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is very small. Bathing can also help spot ticks quickly; and you can also tumble dry clothes in the dryer on high heat for an hour to kill any remaining ticks. Be aware of signs or symptoms of Lyme disease, such as fever or rash, and see your doctor if they develop.