Pick Up a Free Tick Removal Kit Today in Honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month

M.C. Millman

Rockland County Department of Health is giving out free tick removal kits in honor of Lyme Disease Awareness month. 

Residents can pick up the free kit at Finkelstein Memorial Library, 24 Chestnut Street in Spring Valley, from 5:30-6:30 pm today. 

The Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) defines Lyme disease as an illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. An infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick, can transfer the bacteria when it bites you. If Lyme disease is not diagnosed and treated early, it can lead to a chronic illness with long-term health problems. The GLA reports an estimated 476,000 new cases of Lyme in the U.S. each year. 

John Hopkins Medicine recommends the following guidelines to prevent Lyme disease:

• Dress appropriately by wearing:
• Light-colored clothing
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Socks and closed-toe shoes
• Long pants with legs tucked into socks

Look for ticks often on:

• All joints: behind the knees, between fingers and toes, and on underarms
• Other areas where ticks are commonly found: the belly button, neck, hairline, top of the head, and in and behind the ears
• Areas of pressure points, including anywhere that clothing presses tightly on the skin

Visually check all other areas of the body, and run fingers gently over skin.

Consider using repellents in a safe manner Products that have DEET repel ticks, but they don't kill them. These products aren't 100% effective in keeping a tick from feeding on you. Products that have permethrin do kill ticks. But they should be sprayed only on clothing, not on your skin.

These other methods may also help:

• Shower after all outdoor activities are over for the day.
• Check pets and children for ticks.

If you find a tick,  John Hopkins Medicine recommends the following:

• Don't touch the tick with your bare hand.
• Use a pair of tweezers to remove the tick. Grab the tick firmly by its mouth or head as close to your skin as possible.
• Pull up slowly and steadily without twisting until it lets go. Don't squeeze the tick, and don't use petroleum jelly, solvents, knives, or a lit match to kill the tick.
• Save the tick. Place it in a plastic container or ziplock bag so it can be tested for disease if needed.
• Wash the bite area well with soap and water and put an antiseptic lotion or cream on the site.
• Call your healthcare provider to find out about follow-up care and testing of the tick for Lyme disease bacteria.

Photo Credit: Rockland County Government