It
is that time of year again for ticks. There are several different types
of ticks and it is important to know which ones are considered a threat
and which ones are harmless. The keys to protecting yourself from ticks
are to learn the different types of ticks, which ones live in your area
and how to identify them.
It is important to understand that not every tick carries Lyme disease. Deer ticks carry Lyme disease and wood ticks do not. This link can help identify deer ticks from woods ticks; www.tickencounter.org. Like any disease, it is a good idea to take the proper precautions to reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease. If you are going to be in the woods hiking it is always a good idea to tuck your pants into high socks and wear long sleeved shirts tucked in at the waist. It is also not a bad idea to spray your clothes with a tick repellent or even purchase clothes that are pre-treated. If you spend a lot of time in wooded areas you should always perform daily tick checks. Another suggestion to help reduce the risk of tick bites is to put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for up to 10 minutes after outdoor activity. This helps to disengage the tick.
If you do end up with a tick, you should remove it with needle nose tweezers. Then try to identify if it is a deer tick or a wood tick. If it is a deer tick and you think the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours you should seek medical attention immediately. They recommend bringing the tick to your physician so they can identify the type of tick.
It is important to understand that not every tick carries Lyme disease. Deer ticks carry Lyme disease and wood ticks do not. This link can help identify deer ticks from woods ticks; www.tickencounter.org. Like any disease, it is a good idea to take the proper precautions to reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease. If you are going to be in the woods hiking it is always a good idea to tuck your pants into high socks and wear long sleeved shirts tucked in at the waist. It is also not a bad idea to spray your clothes with a tick repellent or even purchase clothes that are pre-treated. If you spend a lot of time in wooded areas you should always perform daily tick checks. Another suggestion to help reduce the risk of tick bites is to put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for up to 10 minutes after outdoor activity. This helps to disengage the tick.
If you do end up with a tick, you should remove it with needle nose tweezers. Then try to identify if it is a deer tick or a wood tick. If it is a deer tick and you think the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours you should seek medical attention immediately. They recommend bringing the tick to your physician so they can identify the type of tick.
