Head Back Outside; Carefully

By Idy Perl

The weather has finally warmed up and the sun seems to be sticking around most of the time, enticing everyone to head back outdoors after a long winter. Getting some sun and playing outside has many health benefits in addition to being fun, but some precautions need to be taken so the outdoors can continue to be fun. 

“This time of year, New Yorkers can and should spend more time outdoors,” Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said, “but enjoyment of nature should come with some simple precautions to prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of tick-borne illness. This includes using an EPA-registered tick repellent and checking your body and your children and pets for ticks after being in wooded or other areas that harbor ticks.”

Preventing tick bites is pretty straightforward and is about being mindful and remembering those simple tips:

• Use an EPA registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 with a product label indicating it is effective against ticks specifically, not only mosquitos.

• Permethrin products can be used on clothing or shoes (but not the skin) to repel and kill ticks.

• Stay in the center of cleared paths and hiking trails when walking in heavily wooded areas. Remember that ticks can hide in short grass as well. 

• Wear light-colored clothing to be able to spot ticks easier.

• Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants to prevent ticks from attaching to your skin.

• When coming back inside, check for ticks on your body and clothing and remove any ticks you find.

• Young ticks are very small (about the size of a poppy seed), and adult ticks are about the size of an apple seed, so seek help to inspect areas not easily reachable. 

• Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors, preferably within two hours.

• Use hot water when washing clothing to kill ticks. If hot water cannot be used, tumble dry wet or damp clothes on low heat for 70 minutes or high heat for 40 minutes. Dry clothing can also be put in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks. 

• If you get a rash or a fever, let the doctor know if you may have been exposed to ticks, even if you don't remember having a tick bite.

Have a healthy and fun summer!

photos by: Shutterstock