This year is predicted to be a particularly bad one for ticks and tick-borne diseases, whether you're vacationing upstate or just going for a walk in Central Park.
And June and July are especially dangerous, since ticks in the second stages of their life cycle cause the most cases of Lyme disease, says Richard Ostfeld, a disease ecologist with the Cary Institute in the Hudson Valley.
Here are some ways to protect yourself from ticks.
THE CLASSICS: Avoid shady, wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Repellent with DEET is the most effective way to repel ticks.
HOW TO GET RID OF A TICK: Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible; slowly pull out in an upward motion; and then wash the area with rubbing alcohol. See your doctor as soon as possible if you experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, lethargy, and body aches. Demand a blood test and start antibiotics as soon as possible.
BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS: Repellents don't actually kill ticks, so the best way to protect yourself from tick bites is to spray clothing, especially shoes and socks (which baby ticks love to latch onto) with permethrin. Though the ticks may still find you, they'll die before they have a chance to infect you.
GO HOLISTIC: Natural repellents which include essential oils from rosemary, lemon grass, thyme and nootkatone, according to the CDC. The EPA hasn't registered them as repellents but some studies have shown that they do keep ticks away, precaution is always best.
As always, if you know of someone in need of financial assistance paying for treatment and/or medication in connection with Lyme disease call me or any one of the board members.
Thank you to all those Kiwanis members and sponsored youth members who take the time to care and share by supporting our mission (No child should have to suffer with this chronic disease) with donations and/or by purchasing a Brittany Fellowship, First and Second Emerald Brittany and the Joseph Michael Wuest Fellowship.
Column Posted on Web Site July 17, 2018
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