When you go out in nature you have to think about the protection against ticks, mosquitoes and any kind of parasites and bugs to enjoy nature.
Nowadays ticks get an accession and their bites mean a serious problem for us. If a tick bite you two things can happen: first the tick was not infected, and you removed it fast. The second thing what can happen is the tick was infected, you have some symptoms like fever, headache, dizziness, fatigue, expanding rash (the initial sign of about 80% of Lyme infections). The achy, stiff or swollen joints are other signs of Lyme infection.
The safest way to protect against Lyme disease is to prevent the tick bites. When traveling to highly Lyme endemic areas of the US and Europe it is recommended to apply preventive products against these parasites.
Ticks can be infected with more than one type of bacteria that can cause human illness. Guarding against tick bites will protect you from more than just Lyme disease.
But what can you do if you want to avoid the disease?
Here are some ways to protect yourself if you venture into wooded or forested areas within risk areas for Lyme disease:
- Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants to spot ticks easier
- Tuck your shirt into your pants, and pull your socks over your pant legs
- Use bug spray on your skin and clothing or use or non-chemical preventive products (TICKLESS is a very good and effective ultrasound tick repellent, uses no chemicals)
- Walk on cleared paths or walkways
- Shower or bathe within two hours of being outdoors to facilitate a prompt tick check and to remove ticks that have not attached yet
- Do a daily full-body check for ticks on yourself and your children, especially in the hair, under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, and around the waist
- If you find an attached tick, remove it with tweezers immediately. Removing it within 24-36 hours can help prevent infection. (When you are removing a tick, pay attention that not to squeeze the tick because their saliva contains the bacteria which can cause illnesses.)
Removing a tick:
- Grab a tweezer!
- Catch the tick gently, near to the tick’s head!
- Pull out the parasite and do not squeeze it!
- Do a tick check on your outdoor gear and your pets as they could carry ticks inside your home
- Put dry outdoor clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks. If your clothes are damp, additional drying time is needed. If you need to wash your clothes first, hot water is recommended. If the clothes cannot be washed in hot water, tumble dry on low heat for 90 minutes or high heat for 60 minutes.
Prevention begins with you!
Take steps to reduce your chances of being bitten by any tick. Ticks are most active during warm weather, generally late spring through fall. Ticks cling to vegetation and are most numerous in brushy, wooded or grassy habitats. When you are outside in an area likely to have ticks (e.g. brushy, wooded or grassy places). Prevention is important. When you are walking in forests or in highly infected areas take some preventive actions: dress up properly (high shank socks, long-sleeved t-shirts, trousers …) and use tick repellents like TICKLESS, a non-chemical ultrasonic tick repellent is.
Try to avoid the highly infected areas (long grass, bushes) and protect yourself and your family with a chemical-free TICKLESS Tick Repeller.