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Summer of Tick Trouble: Hundreds Visit NJ Emergency Rooms for Tick Bites in 2024

ticks1

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, as the warm weather arrives, it brings with it an increase in tick and mosquito activity, posing a greater risk for diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus. In 2024, New Jersey has already seen nearly 700 people visit emergency rooms for tick bites, and this number is expected to rise as the summer progresses.

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CDC : Preventing tick bites

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May 13,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to the CDC while it is a good idea to take preventive measures against ticks year-round, be extra cautious in warmer months (April-September) when ticks are most active and know which ticks are most common in your area.
Avoid Direct Contact with Ticks
Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
Walk in the center of trails.
Repel Ticks on Skin and Clothing
Use repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours.
Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth.
Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may be protective longer.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an online tool to help you select the repellent that is best for you and your family.
Find and Remove Ticks from Your Body
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you.
Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas. Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in their hair.
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 day packs.
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 are damp, additional time may be needed.
If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks effectively. If the clothes cannot be washed in hot water, tumble dry on low heat for 90 minutes or high heat for 60 minutes. The clothes should be warm and completely dry.