Everybody enjoys to go camping with family and friends, especially in the summer time. However, cautions must always be undertaken when partaking in outdoor experiences as nobody wants to change enjoyable times to tearful memories. One of the most important precautions during camping in Ontario and some other parts of Canada is paying attention to ticks, Lyme disease and how to protect ourselves and our health.
Lyme disease is an illness caused by the bite of an infected tick named the “blacklegged tick”. Ticks are small insect like spiders with 1 to 5 millimeters in length and feed on blood. Individuals come into contact with ticks when they rub their legs up against tall grasses containing these bugs. Ticks move slowly and can’t fly, so the only way they come into contact with humans is via these long grasses. Many individuals will have skin-to-skin contact with a tick without even realizing it. Furthermore, most bites from ticks are painless, non-infectious, and will usually not result in Lyme disease. However, it’s better to be prudent and to check all bite marks for any symptoms of this painful disease.
Infected ticks carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The ticks obtain these bacteria when they bite infected mice or deer. When someone gets a bite, it takes about 24 to 36 hours for ticks to transfer the bacteria from their bodies to yours. Therefore if you can remove the tick from your body during this time, you will reduce the risk of getting infected. Lyme disease symptoms can appear after 3 days to a month and some of them include a fever, headaches, muscle and joint pains, fatigue and skin rashes. Untreated disease can result in recurring arthritis, neurological problems and paralysis (unable to move parts of the body).
Here is some advice on how to protect you against ticks and Lyme disease while camping:
- wear light-coloured clothing that shows the ticks easier;
- wear long sleeve shirts;
- wear long pants so you can tuck your pants into your socks;
- spray tick repellent to your skin and clothing;
- avoid hiking in the bushy areas where ticks usually exist;
- use camping chairs and tables to avoid direct contact with the ground and grass
In the event a tick bites you, grasp it with tweezers as close to your skin as possible and pull it straight out without squeezing it. Visit a doctor if you get bitten by a tick.
Going camping and hiking in the woods can be a pleasurable activity for all of us, so let’s consider and pay more attention to some precautions before going into the heart of the nature. Doing so will create even more enjoyable memories of outdoor activities and contact with nature.
Sources:
https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/disease/lyme.aspx
https://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/lyme-eng.php
https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/health-sante/disease-maladie/lyme-eng.php
https://www.canada.com/travel/Tips+stay+safe+while+camping+hiking/7036288/story.html
