As summer is here, more people migrate to doing activities outdoors, leading to increased opportunities to encounter ticks. According to the CDC, each year approximately 35,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported. While only a minority of tick bites lead to Lyme disease, the longer a tick remains attached to the skin, or even pets, the greater the risk of contracting the disease. Tonya Gibbs, Advance Practice Registered Nurse at OSF Medical Group in Monmouth and Roseville, shares these tips in avoiding direct contact with ticks:
“Avoid woody and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. If you are going to do some walking and hiking, make sure you are getting into the center of the trails and staying away from the edges where you might brush up against things. You will want to wear light colored, but long-sleeved clothing and pants when you are camping and when you know you will be in an area that may have some ticks. Use repellent that contains at least 20% DEET or other repellents on exposed skin for protection that can last several hours.”
Gibbs also informs to shower as soon as possible as ticks are more easily found when crawling, conduct full-body checks, examine any gear and pets that may have been with, and tumble drying clothes on high heat for 10 minutes can kill any potential ticks.
