One of the best things about living in South Central PA is the weather. Take it from a Florida transplant: it’s much nicer to have four actual seasons, including a relatively mild summer!, than it is to live in sweltering heat all year long. And since it’s summertime, that means spending a lot of time outside! Our family loves exploring the parks in our area, but there can be a little downside to that: tick bites.
It’s a scary thought, but Pennsylvania leads the country in incidences of Lyme disease, which is caused by — you guessed it — tick bites. But what is Lyme disease exactly? It’s the most common vector-borne disease in the country, spread by ticks, and causes fever, headache, fatigue, and a specific rash. It can be treated with antibiotics and is curable, though if it’s not caught early, there can be long-term damage to things like your nervous system and joints. If left untreated, it can cause serious debilitation.
So how do you prevent Lyme disease? By preventing tick bites. That can be trickier than expected, but we’ve got some tips to make it a little bit easier!
READ: Guide to State and National Parks in South Central PA
Wear insect repellant
The first step is the easiest, and most common sense: wear insect repellant. There are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified repellants you should look for, and there are specific ingredients, like DEET or picaridin, you should look for.
Also make sure to treat your clothing, shoes, and any hiking or camping gear you may use with permethrin.
Wear the right clothes
If you’re going outdoors, particularly in wooded areas or places with tall grass, make sure everyone is wearing long sleeves and long pants, with the pants tucked into the socks. Yes, that’s a bit of a pain in the summertime, but aiming for athletic wear with moisture-wicking material can help.
Also, make sure the clothes you’re wearing are light-colored. This way, you’ll be able to spot ticks much easier than if you’re wearing dark colors.
Hike in the right places
Try to make sure you plan your outings well. It’s great to explore the outdoors, but you’ll want to avoid places with lots of heavy brush or tall, thick grass.
If you’re in a park, stay in the center of the trails and don’t wander into the brush or in areas with a lot of leaf piles.
Check yourself out
After you’re done being outdoors, it’s time for everyone to check each other out! Thoroughly examine everyone’s clothes, gear, pets, and so on, before you come inside… because ticks can be brought inside on these things. If you find ticks on your clothes or gear, you can kill them by putting them in the dryer and tumble-drying on high heat.
Then, you will need to examine your body and your kids’ bodies. Make sure to pay close attention to areas like belly buttons, behind the ears, armpits, the back of the knees, and so on. Everyone needs to shower right away, because this can lower the incidence of Lyme disease.
You found tick bites — now what?
Let’s say you’re doing your examination and you found some tick bites on your littles. Don’t panic; removing the tick properly and quickly can lower the incidence of Lyme disease. Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly as close to the skin as possible, and pull upwards in one smooth motion. Don’t twist the tick, because this can cause parts of the mouth to break off inside the skin and be left behind. Afterwards, you can flush the tick down the toilet or put it in a baggie before throwing it away, but don’t crush the tick with your fingers. It may help to take a photo of the tick just in case anyone becomes symptomatic.
After the tick is removed, make sure to clean it thoroughly with soap and water, and then make sure to keep an eye on the area for the next week or two in case any symptoms pop up. If the person who got bitten gets a rash or a fever, go see your doctor immediately to begin antibiotics.
Tick bites are a serious issue in Pennsylvania, but thankfully, it’s also manageable! You just need to take a few precautions, and it doesn’t mean we can’t keep enjoying the beautiful South Central PA outdoors.
