Warner weather brings more time spent outside, as well as more wildlife. Among the animals and bugs coming out of hibernation after a long winter are ticks, small insects that can transmit disease through their bites. Ticks thrive in the spring and summer and are most common in areas with high grass or woods. There are several thousand types of ticks, but there are four main species that appear in New Jersey. In order to prevent getting bitten and being exposed to tick-borne diseases, follow these steps!

Wear Protective Gear

It is important to make sure you are protected against the sun and ticks by wearing protective clothing and gear. When getting dressed to spend time in the woods or hiking in tall grass, make sure you are wearing:

• Long sleeves
• Long pants
• Sunglasses
• Closed-toe shoes or boots
• Protective gear treated with permethrin or DEET
• Insect repellent

When dressing for a day outside, select clothing with light colors and limited patterns in order to make ticks stand out more, allowing for quick removal. Most ticks are dark brown and can be as small as a poppy seed, which require thorough tick checks to detect. You should also make sure to tuck your pant legs into your long socks to keep your feet, ankles and legs protected from ticks jumping up and coming into contact with your skin.

Perform Tick Checks

After getting back inside, the first thing you should do is perform a self-examination for ticks. If you were with someone, have them help you perform the check and help them perform their own. You should check your clothing and your skin for anything that could be a tick. After your exam, take a shower to wash any ticks off that may have gone undetected and put the clothes you were wearing into the dryer on the highest setting. The heat from your dryer will be able to kill any ticks that remain on your clothes.

What Should I Do if I Find a Tick?

If you find a tick, you should extract it immediately using pointy tweezers. Put the edge of the tweezers as close to your skin and the head of the tick as possible and remove it in a steady motion, rather than twisting it. This will be able to remove the entire tick. If you begin to develop symptoms, including a rash, fever or feeling sluggish, you should visit your local AFC Urgent Care Center immediately for testing and treatment.

Tick Bite Treatment in Cedar Grove, NJ

If you have been exposed to ticks and require detection and treatment of Lyme Disease, visit AFC Urgent Care Cedar Grove. Our urgent care center accepts walk-in patients seven days a week and offers evening and weekend hours. Most major health insurances are accepted. If you have questions about our services, please call 973-239-2300.