Did you know?

July 23, 2009 on 3:05 pm | In Home Safety Tips and Topics, The Heart of Your Home | No Comments

You may have not known this but by working or playing outside can expose yourself and/or your children to getting Lyme disease. You can get Lyme disease by being bit by an infected tick.

You need to be most cautious during May, June, and July. On the positive side you don’t have to worry about this during cooler months.

Symptoms are: headache, fever, skin rash and fatigue. If you think you or someone you know might have this, you must get checked out as soon as possible because the pain can worsen and spread to the nervous system, joints and heart. If a tick hasn’t been attached to your skin for at least 24 hours your risk of Lyme disease is very small, if it has been longer than 24 hours, please look for symptoms or contact the call a nurse hotline. The following are ways to protect yourself:

1. Avoid woods, tall grass, bushes, and leaf litter. If you must work in these conditions, be sure to clear heavy brush this will reduce your risk of getting a tick. If you are in the woods or out in the country stay as close to a path as possible, so that you are not brushing up against bushes or tall grass.
2. Contact your local health department to find out where the high levels of tick infestation are.
3. Protect your body; wear long pants, long sleeve shirts and socks to cover as much skin as possible.
4. Tuck pant legs inside of boots to be sure that a tick cannot enter that way. If you’re going to be outside for a long period of time it is best to tape the area of where your sock and pant leg meet.
5. After working outside no matter how long you should always check clothing before going inside. It may be best to buy a repellent that can be used on clothing.
6. Wash clothing in hot water and then dry in high heat up to an hour at least, to kill any ticks that may have been overlooked.
7. Inspect all areas of your body not just the exposed skin. Check your armpits, scalp, ears or even private areas. Remove tick right away with tweezers.