With the onset of spring, nature begins to wake up, including animals and insects. Among the latter, one of the most dangerous is the tick. It begins to show activity with the appearance of the first thawed patches.
Before we learn how to protect ourselves from a tick, let's try to figure out what it is.
This is an arachnid insect that looks like a red-brown bug. The female needs blood in order to carry eggs. The hungry tick is very small, only 3 mm long, but after drinking the blood of its victim, it can reach a diameter of 10 mm.
He is a carrier of viruses, fungi and bacteria that can infect the bitten. The most dangerous disease is tick-borne encephalitis. Unfortunately, it does not pass without a trace - the motor apparatus and the brain are affected, in 30% of cases deaths are possible.
Tick activity is observed from April to late autumn. The likelihood of being bitten by this insect increases in May and June. To know how to protect yourself from ticks, it is worth remembering that they can be found in a dark, damp place. He doesn't like the suntries to avoid it. In rainy weather, the population of this parasite increases. Its greatest activity is observed in the evening and early morning. It senses a person up to 10 meters away.
Ticks usually sit in grass or bushes up to 1 m high. As soon as his potential victim (human or animal) passes by, he clings to it with his paws and begins to look for more tender skin on the body to bite.
"How to protect yourself from a tick?" - a question that worries everyone who spends a lot of time in nature.
First of all, you should pay attention to clothes:
- Shoes should be tight and closed. Rubber boots are ideal, as it will be very difficult for a tick to catch on their surface.
- It is better to give preference not to shorts, but to pants that can be tucked into socks. So the parasite will not be able to crawl into the open area of the body.
- It is better to replace the T-shirt with a turtleneck, and put on a tight hat on your head or tie it with a scarf.
Also, answering the question "how to protect yourself from a tick", it is worth recalling the need to use special tools that have properties to repel insects. Some are applied to the body, others to clothes.
In a forest or open area, do not leave the path and go into thick grass, especially if there are bushes nearby.
During the walk, you need to periodically examine yourself. Upon returning home, it is advisable to take a shower and carefully comb the finecomb. This procedure will help to identify a parasite that has not yet attached.
It is worth remembering that he can also get into the house with a bouquet of wildflowers or plucked twigs from trees, so it is better to refrain from such actions.
Such precautions also answer the question: "How to protect yourself from a tick?". When followed, the risk of being bitten is greatly reduced.
As a preventive measure, you can get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. She will be able to protect against infection for 3 years.
In the spring and summer, pets also need protection. They often spend more time outdoors than humans. How to protect a dog from ticks worries many owners. To do this, after each walk, you need to examine and feel your pet for the presence of parasites. And in pet stores you can buy a special collar and means to repel ticks.
