Go back outside; Attention – Parc Boro 24

Go back outside; Thoroughly

By Idy Perl

The weather has finally warmed up and the sun seems to stay out most of the time, enticing everyone to get back outside after a long winter. Getting some sun and playing outside has many health benefits besides being fun, but there are some precautions that need to be taken to keep the outdoors fun.

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

Preventing tick bites is quite simple and involves being attentive and remembering these simple tips:

• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 with a product label stating that it is effective against ticks specifically, not just mosquitoes.

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

• Stay in the center of open trails and hiking trails when walking in heavily wooded areas. Remember that ticks can also hide in short grass.

• Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.

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

• When you come indoors, check your body and clothing for ticks 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 ask for help to inspect hard-to-reach areas.

• Take a bath or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors, preferably within two hours.

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

• If you have a rash or fever, tell the doctor if you may have been exposed to ticks, even if you don’t remember a tick bite.

Have a healthy and fun summer!

photos by: Shutterstock