Safety Tip of the Week – Ticks

Tick-borne pathogens can be passed to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Tick bite prevention:

• Avoid areas where there is a lot of vegetation or animals that can carry ticks.
• If you have to be in these areas, wear clothes and gloves that cover as much skin as possible.
• Use bug repellant that protects against ticks.
• Check for ticks periodically on your clothes and skin, and in your hair. Do a head to toe check of your body before showering.
• Ticks like to bury themselves in the skin on warmer areas of the body.

If you find a tick on you:

• It is important to remove the tick as quickly as possible.
• Removing the tick quickly can prevent the spread of disease if the tick is infected.
• Use fine tip tweezers to remove the tick.
• Make sure the head of the tick is removed with the body. Save the tick in a zip lock bag or container in case it needs to be identified later on if disease occurs.
• Wash the area as well as your hands with soap and water after the tick is removed. Apply antibiotic ointment to the area if the bite becomes irritated.

   

DON’T BE HASTY…WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY!!