BLAST Lyme Disease

B.L.A.S.T. Guidelines  

Be aware and become educated about tick borne illness.

Look for ticks.  Look for a rash.  Do a tick check after coming indoors and do a final tick check at the end of the day.  If one is found, remove it with tweezers, Bathing within two hours of exposure may remove ticks before they attach to your skin.

Avoid areas with ticks.  Stay on cleared well-traveled paths.  Ticks prefer wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.  Consider use of repellents.  Wear socks and enclosed shoes.  Wear long pants and tuck you pants into your socks.  Wear a long sleeved shirt.  Light colored clothing is best to see the ticks.

Safe guard your yard and pets.  Landscaping techniques can be used to create a tick-safe zone around your home.  The use of pesticides should be also be considered.  Veterinarians offer a variety of methods for safe guarding pets against ticks.

Treatment for early symptoms is the best way to prevent serious illness.  Contact your physician and obtain early medical treatment when you first notice any symptoms.