Outdoor Safety: Beware of Ticks
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The label carries some justification, because although the vast majority of tick bites are not a cause for medical concern, some ticks carry diseases that can be harmful to human health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a common sense, four step tick bite prevention guide for everyone who participates in outdoor activities:
- Recognize Tick Habitat: Ticks can be found in woodlands and grassy areas around the United States. Usually they live on branches and grasses close to the ground in order to more easily attach themselves to animals and humans wandering in the area. Staying on managed trails when hiking can be a very effective preventative measure.
- Wear Proper Clothing: Because staying on trails is not always a practical option during outdoor activities, wearing long sleeved pants and shirts can be effective tick bite prevention tools. Clothing represent a first line barrier between the tick and your skin. Wearing light color clothes adds an additional element of tick safety because they make ticks easier to see during periodic tick checks.
- Tuck Pants into Socks: A tick's affinity for close to the ground habitat increases the possibility of their attaching themselves to shoes and lower pant areas. Tucking pants into socks provides an additional barrier between the tick and your skin.
- Use DEET: DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is a common chemical ingredient found in many over the counter insect repellents. Always follow the application directions to insure its safe use, especially with children.
© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels