Lyme Prevention:

Lyme Disease is preventable. By taking the right precautions and spreading the word, you can effectively protect your family and pets from Lyme.

 

Avoid tick-infested areas whenever possible, particularly in spring and early summer when nymph ticks feed.  Adult ticks are a bigger threat in the fall.  Ticks favour leafy wooded areas and overgrown grassy habitats. Eastern provinces and states have much higher rates of infection than BC but the risk is still there and growing.
 

Tips for Prevention

-  Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from getting inside your pants.
-  Check your clothing for ticks often.  Ticks will climb upwards until they find an area of exposed skin.
-  Wear light coloured clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.
-  Walk on pathways or trails when possible staying in the middle. Avoid low-lying brush or long grass.
-  Apply insect repellent to your skin and clothing, especially at the openings such as ankles, wrist and neck.

-  MOST IMPORTANTLY - do a tick check after being outdoors.  Ticks thrive in moist environments. It is important to check: 
   - between the toes
  - behind the knees
  - groin
  - armpits
  - navel
  - in the ears
  - nape of the neck
  - in the hair

    - Check your Pets!

 

Tick Removal

For more information on Tick Removal, see Bitten? tab or visit Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation (CanLyme in Contacts & Links)