Spring is the time of year when ticks become very active. Deer ticks transmit Lyme disease and we live in a high-risk area for the disease. Now is the time to start thinking about taking precautions to protect against this long-term and debilitating infection.
Here are some simple precautions you should take:
• Avoid heavily wooded areas and tall grass.
• Use a bug repellant that includes DEET.
• Wear light-colored clothing and, whenever possible, long pants, and tuck them into your socks.
• Always check yourself, your children, and pets after being outdoors.
If you think you have been bitten:
• Remove the tick immediately by pulling it slowly straight out.
• Transmission of Lyme disease from an infected tick is less likely to occur if the tick is properly removed.
• Don’t squeeze or use alcohol or any other substance that will aggravate the tick and regurgitate more venom back into you.
• Once removed, apply antiseptic.
• Save the tick and contact your doctor <<immediately.>>
For further information, contact the Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center at 914-493-TICK.
— Chris Cohan
