The weather is warming up and with it the outdoor activities. The Bay Area has spectacular outdoor places where we can enjoy nature without having to go far. But be careful, there is a silent, small and very well camouflaged predator that can attack you and your pets, causing serious illnesses. Let's talk about ticks.
This does not mean that you have to abandon your desire to be abroad, you simply have to be careful and prevent an encounter with these bugs.
But what can you do when you are outdoors in areas where ticks may be present?
It is recommended to wear long pants and long sleeves, and avoid wearing sandals. Also, tuck pants into socks or boots, and tuck shirts into pants.
Likewise, you can wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see ticks before they attach to your skin.
Using repellents is a must. Always apply them according to the directions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends repellents containing 20 to 30 percent DEET for protection against ticks. These should be applied to exposed skin.
Stay on the trail. Ticks are often found in weeds, tall grass, or leaf litter, so when hiking, walk in the center of the trail to avoid grassy or weedy areas.
After outdoor activities in areas where ticks may be present, it is a good idea to check yourself, your children, pets, and your gear thoroughly for ticks.
Also, check areas that can't be easily seen, such as in and around the ears, scalp, armpits, belly button, groin, and behind the knees. Taking a shower soon after being outdoors can help rinse off any loose ticks and allow you to check all areas of your body.
If you find a tick on you, remove it immediately. In most cases, a tick removed within 48 hours of attachment will not transmit the disease.
The agency also recommends using tweezers or disposable tissues — not your bare hands — to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible, and not burning, suffocating, cutting, covering with nail polish, or twisting the tick.
Ticks cannot be removed on their own once they are fully embedded and must be removed with tweezers and pulled away from the skin using even, constant pressure.
After removing it, you should wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water, or use a disinfectant solution.
Consult a health care professional if you are unable to completely remove a tick, or if you develop a rash or fever 3 to 30 days after being bitten by a tick.
Please do not let this information scare you away from the green outdoors, rather plan ahead, be prepared, stay alert, and see you on the trail.
To learn more about what the CDC has to say about ticks, click here.
You may be interested in: Santa Clara County reports first death due to animal tranquilizer
