The heat begins 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, because 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 suggested to wear pants and long sleeves, in addition to avoiding the use of sandals. Also, tuck pants into socks or boots, and shirts into pants.
In the same way, light-colored clothing can be worn to make it easier to see ticks before they attach to the skin.
The use of repellents is essential. Always apply them according to the instructions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ?CDC, for its acronym in English? recommends repellents that contain 20 to 30 percent DEET for protection against ticks. These should be applied to exposed skin.
Stay on the road. Ticks are often found in brush, tall grass, or leaf litter, so when hiking, walk in the center of the trail to avoid grassy or brushy areas.
After outdoor activities in areas where ticks may be present, it is advisable to check yourself and your children, pets and your equipment thoroughly for ticks.
Also, check areas that cannot be easily seen, such as inside and around the ears, scalp, armpits, belly button, groin, and behind the knees. Taking a shower shortly after being outdoors can help rinse loose ticks and allow you to check all areas of their 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 tissues ?not with bare hands? to hold the tick as close to the skin surface as possible, also do not burn, suffocate, cut, cover with nail polish, or twist the tick.
Ticks cannot be removed on their own once they are fully inserted and must be removed with tweezers and separated from the skin with even, constant pressure.
After removing it, you should wash the area of the bite and your hands with soap and water, or use a disinfectant solution.
See a health professional if you cannot 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 keep you from the green areas in the open air, rather anticipate, get ready, stay tuned and see you on the trail.
To learn more about what the CDC has to say about ticks, click here.
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