HEALTH & SAFETY
Beware of Ticks!
As many of you may be heading out camping this long weekend or any other
weekend this summer we want to make sure that you protect yourself from a tiny
but serious threat hiding in our woods and even backyards - TICKS. Lyme Disease
is preventable. By taking the right precautions and spreading the word, you can
effectively protect your family from Lyme Disease.
PREVENTING INFECTION
The best way to prevent infection is to avoid tick-infested areas whenever possible, particularly in spring
and early summer when nymph ticks feed. Adult ticks are a bigger threat in fall. Ticks favour moist, shaded
environments; especially leafy wooded areas and overgrown grassy habitats.
1. Use insect repellant with 20% DEET or higher on your skin and clothing.
2. Apply permethrin to clothing, hiking boots, tents and camp chairs.
3. Wear light-coloured clothing.
4. Wear long pants with sneakers or hiking boots.
5. Avoid tick-infested places.
6. Be vigilant – do a daily tick check.
7. Put your clothes in the dryer, and tumble them on high heat.
SAFE TICK REMOVAL METHODS - VIDEOS
Tweezer Removal
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=AmM5NmQMHVo
ch?v=AmM5NmQMHVo
Straw & Knot Method
&
Intradermal Blister Method
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=x9dsmFVPDqs
TICK TREATMENT
After a tick has been removed, it’s important to wash the bite site using
soap and water, followed with an antiseptic. Over-the-counter antiseptic
medications are available at any pharmacy.
If the tick that bit you is a Lyme-carrying species, don’t wait to develop
symptoms. Go to your doctor and request antibiotics as a precaution.
http://canlyme.com/lyme-prevention/
- 10 www.tarponenergy.com
The following tick
removal methods are NOT
recommended:
• Burning the tick off with a match
• “Suffocating” the tick with petroleum
jelly or hot oil
• Gripping the tick with thumb and
forefinger and tugging at it