After a long winter, we’re all excited to enjoy the warmer weather.
Last month, the state departments of Health and Environmental Protection warned Pennsylvanians that tick season is here and that we should all take the proper precautions.
In Pennsylvania, there are plenty of awesome opportunities for outdoor recreation, but it’s important that we all take the time to protect ourselves. Lyme disease is present in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, and three state surveillance locations spotted the rare but dangerous deer tick virus during testing of ticks in Clearfield, Wyoming, and Centre counties.
When it comes to Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses, preventing tick bites is the best way to reduce risk of infection and disease. Here are eight ways you can stay safe and enjoy the outdoors this spring:
- Apply tick repellents to exposed skin
- Wear light-colored outer clothing and tuck shirts into pants, and pants into socks
- Walk in the center of trails, and avoid wooded and brushy areas
- After returning home, take a shower and place your clothing into the dryer on high heat to kill any lingering ticks
- Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand or full-length mirror
- Check your pets
- Use tweezers to remove ticks carefully, including the head
- Contact your health care provider with any questions or if symptoms arise
Additional educational materials from the Pennsylvania Department of Health are available online.