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Hometown Health Center

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Ticks are Still Out There!

April 28, 2022 by Carol Higgins-Taylor

Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during late spring through early fall. For more information in ticks, visit www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev

Before You Go Outdoors

Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.

Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

Use Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Always follow product instructions. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.

Avoid Contact with Ticks. Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails.

After You Come Indoors

Check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.

Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and daypacks.

Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be   effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.

Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body.

For information in Lyme disease in Maine, click the link below for a message from the Governor’s office.
LYME DISEASE IS IN MAINE

 

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Hometown Health Center receives grant support from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.  Hometown Health Center does not discriminate on basis of gender, race, creed, color, religious affiliation, national origin, ancestry, age, family status, sexual orientation or disability in either the delivery of services or in its employment practices. We are a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and so covered by the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), meaning all malpractice claims are subject to federal procedural law.

As a National Health Service Corps Site, we promise to serve all patients; offer discounted fees for patients who qualify; and not deny services based on a person’s: race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or inability to pay. We accept insurance, including: Medicaid, Medicare, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). HHC is a member of the National Health Service Corps: NHSC.hrsa.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration.

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