Tick season is here! What to know:

Beaulieu_Heights_Steps.jpg

Last week I posted some ideas about how to maximize your summer if you will be away from home. This week we should talk about ticks and Lyme disease; since many summer music programs are located in beautiful, rural places. If you hike around the woods or fields, or lodge in a cabin, it's important to be cautious of ticks, which are around you ALL THE TIME.

The most important thing is to be alert. Ticks love warm places and like to hang out in your arm pits, behind your knee, and on your head. Check constantly around your body for weird bumps, since they usually don't bite once and leave, and tend to stay on your skin for a few days. 

If you find a tick on you, remove it as quickly as you can. A tick needs to remain attached for 36 hours before Lyme disease can be transmitted. Also, do not try to remove it with your fingers. Get a pair of tweezers, grab the whole tick, and pull it out. 

Also, the most important thing is to NOT panic. After you remove it, schedule a meeting at your health center and see a doctor. Early detection can stop some of the associated ailments from fully activating.

The most common tick bite symptoms are: 

  • Fever or chills
  • Joint pain
  • Fatigue
  • Rash

Here are some rules for general tick prevention:

  • Use a chemical repellent with DEET, permethrin or picaridin.
  • Wear light-colored protective clothing.
  • Tuck pant legs into socks.
  • Avoid tick-infested areas such as stagnant bodies of water.
  • Check yourself regularly, and if you have pets don't forget to check them too on a daily basis. Use a dense comb if their hair is thick.