Ticks



Tick season has approached and we need to be aware of the prescence of ticks more than
ever. Ticks located in the United States are more responsible for human diseases
than any other insects. Ticks attach themselves to our bodies and can make us very sick.
Ticks are very effective transmitters of disease because most ticks take blood
from a large variety of small and large mammals, reptiles, and even birds.

Tick Checks!

Ticks may be brought into your home by pets as well as being on your clothing.   When checking yourself and your children for ticks, don't forget to check the family pets.


Protect Yourself from Tick Bites
•Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in moist and humid environments, particularly in or near wooded or grassy areas. You may come into contact with ticks during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through vegetation such as leaf litter or shrubs. When walking trails in parks, nature trails, and hiking trails walk in the center of trails, in order to avoid ticks.
•Use a repellent with DEET (on skin or clothing) or permethrin (on clothing). Products containing permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear which can remain protective through several washings. Repellents containing 20% or more DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) can be applied to the skin, and they can protect up to several hours. Always follow product instructions! Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding the hands, eyes, and mouth.
•Wear light-colored clothing, which allows you to see ticks crawling on your clothing. Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks.
•Tuck your pant legs into your socks so that ticks cannot crawl up inside of your pant legs. Some ticks can crawl down into shoes and are small enough to crawl through most socks. If you travel in areas wich have lone star ticks (which are associated with Southern tick-associated rash illness, ehrlichiosis, and possibly Rocky Mountain spotted fever) you should examine your feet and ankles frequently to ensure that ticks are not attached.

For more information on ticks and their preventions click here

To learn more about ticks and their diseases check out this site  

Return to bulletin board