Huron County, ON – Humans are not the only ones enjoying the great outdoors in Huron County this summer – ticks are out too.
The Huron County Health Unit reminds residents that black-legged ticks can be found in long grasses and wooded areas. Infected black-legged ticks can transmit Lyme disease when they bite.
“Be ‘Tick Wise’,” says Public Health Inspector Keshia McDonagh. “Check yourself, others and pets for ticks after being outdoors, especially if you’ve been in tall grassy areas or wooded areas.”
Here’s how:
T: Two people checking are better than one! Get someone else to inspect the back of your body.
I: Inspect people and pets in a well-lit area, especially after being outdoors.
C: Check head to toe, including groin, armpits and hairline.
K: Know what you’re looking for. A tick can be as small as a pepper flake. If it has attached and started feeding, it could be as large as a small grape.
S: Successfully remove any tick you find by grasping the tick with tweezers as close to your skin as possible. Pull straight out, gently but firmly. Don’t squeeze! Cleanse the site with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
“If you remove a tick from yourself or someone else, place it in a screw cap container,” says McDonagh. “Bring it to your health care provider or the Huron County Health Unit for identification and testing if warranted. If you remove a tick from your pet, take it to your veterinarian.”
Removing ticks from your skin as soon as possible will help prevent infection, since usually a tick must be attached for more than 24 hours to transmit the Lyme disease agent.
“If you experience a skin rash that may resemble a red bull’s eye, or fever, headache, fatigue or muscle and joint pain, contact your health care provider,” adds McDonagh. “Be sure to notify your health care provider if you have recently been in wooded areas or have been bitten by a tick.”
Stay Tick Wise by wearing closed-toe shoes, long-sleeved tops and tucking pant legs into socks. Wearing light-coloured clothing makes ticks easier to spot. Use an insect repellent with DEET concentration of 30% for adults and 10% for kids over the age of 6 months. Try to stay on paths where possible, and inspect clothes outside once you return home.
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TO FIND OUT MORE…
Our media contact is: Rita Marshall, Communications Coordinator, Huron County Health Unit, 519.482.3416 or toll-free 1.877.837.6143 ext. 2023 or rmarshall@huroncounty.ca
Our spokesperson is: Keshia McDonagh, Public Health Inspector. Our media contact will connect you to our spokesperson on this topic.