While the summer season may be over in the minds of professionals and students everywhere, the summer weather is around for a little while still. Along with all the benefits that come with that, there are also downsides to the good weather. For instance, experts say that this time of year is high season for ticks as people tend to be out camping and in the wooded areas they frequent.
Now most people don’t think much about ticks, but while they’re not big pests by any means and their bites are fairly painless, they can do a lot of damage. Ticks can carry Lyme disease which is an illness that can be misdiagnosed fairly easily as some older age issues. Certainly a disease you’ll want to avoid and the Mayo Clinic suggests how to prevent
Cover up. If you are going camping or even on a hike, be sure to cover your skin as much as possible. Ticks bites aren’t strong enough to get through fabric so ensure you have no exposed skin they can latch on to. Invest in some light long sleeves and pants and it can do a lot to protect you.
Use insect repellent. While not all insect repellent is as effective as advertised, you can find some brands that will do the trick for keeping ticks away. Experts suggest using repellents with a DEET rating of 20 percent or higher.
Do your best to tick-proof your yard. Ticks are attracted to damp, shaded areas where they can hide so do your best to ensure your yard is inhospitable to the little pests. Rake up any leaves or large piles of grass clippings on a regular basis.
Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks. As was previously said, ticks are hard to spot and their bite can easily go unnoticed. Therefore, it is very important that you check yourself thoroughly for them after you hike or during your camping. Especially check your hairline where they can hide. Also, check your pets as well as ticks tend to latch on to animals often.
Remove a tick as soon as possible. If you do find a tick be sure to remove it as quickly as possible. Removing the pests is a delicate act since if the head is left attached to the skin it can skill cause negative effects, therefore, you have to be careful not to crush it. You can purchase special tick-removing instruments, or failing that, use tweezers.