Tick, tick, tick…

Published May 24, 2007
By Master Sgt. Sean Reiling
319th Medical Group

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The tick season in North Dakota has arrived! Areas that are heavily wooded, have tall grass or have brush are more likely to be tick infested, especially between April and September, with the highest risk of disease transmission during the warmer months.

The following tips for making it difficult for ticks to make contact with your skin:
· Wear light-colored clothing to make the ticks easier to see.
· Wear long pants and tuck the legs into your socks or boots.
· Keep your shirt tucked in.
· Apply insect repellent that contains DEET to your clothes and skin.

After leaving a tick-infested area, it's important to remove and wash all clothing as soon as possible. Also, carefully check for ticks and use tweezers to remove any that have attached to your body. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with tweezers as close as possible to the head and gently tug until it is free. Make sure to wash your hands and the site of tick attachment with soap and water after tick removal.

Any questions please contact Public Health at 7-5511