VA Offers Tips on Tick Bite Protection
Deer ticks can transmit Lyme Disease. Most cases of Lyme Disease occur in the Northeast from Maryland to Maine; in the North-central states, mostly in Wisconsin and Minnesota; and on the West Coast, particularly northern California. The risk of being bitten by an infected tick is greatest in the summer months, especially in May and June. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers the following tips to protect yourself from tick bites as you step outdoors this summer.
-- Wear light colors so it is easier to see ticks;
-- Use insect repellent containing DEET and follow the label directions;
-- Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, shoes and socks;
-- Tuck pant bottoms into sock tops to keep ticks from getting under clothing; and,
-- Conduct a head-to-toe examination of yourself and your children after being outdoors.
If you are bitten by a tick, remove it using fine tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible. Pull firmly but gently and do not jerk or twist. Be careful not to puncture the body of the tick since its fluids may contain infectious agents. Apply alcohol to the wound. Notify your health care provider and preserve the tick in alcohol for identification.
For more information, contact your local VA medical center or visit http://www.nchpdp.med.va.gov.
Veterans Affairs (VA) R&D
103 S. Gay St., Ste 517
Baltimore, MD 21202
United States
http://www.va.gov/resdev
VA Oferte Sfaturi pe veresie Musca Protecþia - VA Offers Tips on Tick Bite Protection - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate