Tick, tick, tick…it’s almost summer and time for ticks!
The York Parks & Rec Department is kicking off a tick awareness campaign to help spread knowledge of ticks, tick bite prevention and treatment. Valuable information includes:
- Choose light-colored clothing that makes ticks easier to spot. Wear long sleeves and pants; tuck pant legs into socks and shirts into pants when walking in woods, brush, or tall grass. Deer ticks attach to clothing and move upward.
- Use an EPA-approved insect repellent.
- Walk in center of trails. Use caution in wooded and bushy areas with leaf litter.
- Do a tick check ANYTIME you have been outside! Inspect your skin, clothing, and pets for ticks and remove them promptly. Don’t miss scalp, ears, neck, armpits, behind knees and pelvic region. Have someone else check your back.
- Showering removes unattached ticks that you may not have found. Tumble dry garments on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks remaining on clothes.
- If you spot an embedded tick, use a tick spoon or tweezers to grasp its mouth and pull out with steady pressure. Don’t use petroleum jelly, hot matches, or nail polish remover as this can increase the risk of infection. Wash any possible tick bites with soap and water and apply antiseptic.
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