Summer Safety – Ticks

Today, I’m continuing our summer safety tips with an entry about those tiny terrors we call ticks.  Ticks are blood-sucking parasites, which means that they stay alive by feeding off the blood of other living things.  Ticks like damp and humid areas, like the woods and tall grasses. They don’t fly or jump, but they can “catch a ride” on people or animals as they pass by.  As you probably know, once these little guys dig into your skin, they aren’t going to let go without a fight.  So I thought I’d give you a few tips to protect yourself from ticks.

First, try to cover up your skin as much as possible when walking through wooded areas.  This can be hot during the summer, but wearing long sleeves and tucking your pants into your socks will go a long way in keeping the ticks from getting to your skin.  If you wear light-colored clothes, it will be easier to spot any ticks that might be crawling on you.  When walking in the woods, try to stay in the middle of paths and away from branches and brush where ticks can hang out.

Always do a body search for ticks whenever you’ve been outdoors.  For kids, have your parents do a thorough check of you from head to toe.  For adults, use a mirror to scan yourself.  Ticks tend to go to the warmest spots on the body, so be sure to check the following places:

•         Under the arms
•         In and around the ears
•         Inside belly button
•         Back of the knees
•         Under the arms
•         In and around the hair
•         Between the legs
•         Around the waist

Also, check your clothing and pets for ticks. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Placing clothes into a dryer on high heat effectively kills ticks.

Remove an attached tick with tweezers or rubbing alcohol (and be sure the head comes out, too) as soon as you notice it. Watch for signs of illness such as rash or fever, and see a doctor if these develop.

That’s the scoop of ticks.  Be safe and aware of your surroundings out there…and until next week, I’ll see you ‘round the ‘Bend!

Nature Dave