It’s that time of year again: summer! So tighten your Chacos, grab your hammock, and don’t forget the most important thing you’re bringing – bug spray! Yes – insect repellent really is that necessary. More than 36,000 people were diagnosed with Lyme disease, a tick-borne infectious disease, in 2016, and that number is predicted to rise in the coming years. Although native Coloradans may be uninformed about this disease, it is notorious throughout the East Coast for its mysterious, enduring, and painful symptoms. Here are 4 tips about preventing this disease that can help you make your summer tick-free, disease-less, and a whole lot more fun:

1. 1. Don’t be a tree hugger! From San Isabel National Forest to Black Forest to Ute Valley, Colorado Springs is surrounded by thousands and thousands of trees. And what (among many other things) thrive in wooded areas? The answer is ticks: small, bloodsucking insects that are the leading carrier of diseases to humans in the United States. These bugs are tiny – the size of a poppy seed – and can easily latch onto to anything, or anyone, that comes into contact with tree bark, leaves, or grass they habitat. So, be careful the next time you find yourself climbing a tree or bushwacking your way down a mountain; you never know how close you are to becoming a tick’s new home.
   2. Bugspray, bugspray, bugspray! It might be second nature by now to lather on the sunscreen whenever you’re heading out the door, but not many of us regularly use bug spray as well. Make using insect repellent a habit when you are going to be anywhere outdoors near a wooded area.
   3. Check for bugs! After spending time in the outdoors, always be sure to check your skin for ticks, and have a friend check places you can’t see, like in your hair or on your back. A tick has to be on open skin for 24 to 48 continuous hours to transmit any bacteria, so check quickly and carefully!
   4. Know the signs! The earliest sign of a tick bite is a “bull’s-eye” rash that forms at the site of the bite. It is recognized as “a central red spot surrounded by a clear spot with an area of redness at the edge,” according to Healthline. If untreated, a tick bite can result in symptoms including fever, fatigue, chills, enlarged lymph nodes, sore throat, vision chances, muscle aches, and headaches. If you have any of these symptoms and they last for more than a week, it might be a good idea to visit your doctor or a clinic.

Don’t let worrying about ticks consume your summer, just be safe, informed, and aware! Ignorance is not bliss (in this case). Have a fun, and tick-free, summer, Cougars!

sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/lyme-disease

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/07/607782359/lyme-disease-is-on-the-rise-again-heres-how-to-prevent-it

http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/15552-watch-out-for-ticks-when-working-outdoors