A warm winter means more ticks, and more ticks increases the risk of a tick bite, along with associated illnesses like Colorado tick fever.
The American Red Cross of Western Colorado is reminding Coloradans to be alert and take safety precautions when outdoors to prevent tick bites.
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the number of ticks in the wild this year is higher than normal due to a record-warm winter.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported in April that weekly rates of emergency room visits for tick bites in the U.S. were the highest for that time of year since 2017.
“While ticks in Colorado do not carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, a tick bite can still make you sick,” said Christie Caster, executive director of the Red Cross of Western Colorado. “Bites can cause Colorado tick fever, which causes flu-like symptoms, or other illnesses. A few simple steps, like avoiding tall grass and wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants when going into wildland areas, can help greatly reduce the risk of a tick bite.”
To prevent against tick bites, follow these tips:
• Use insect repellents containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) when you are outdoors. Be sure to follow the directions on the package.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and tuck your pant legs into your socks or boots.
• Use a rubber band or tape to hold pants against socks so that nothing can get under clothing.
• Tuck your shirt into your pants. Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see tiny insects or ticks.
• When hiking in woods and fields, stay in the middle of trails. Avoid underbrush and tall grass where ticks and other bugs can easily attach themselves to you.
If you are outdoors for a long time, check yourself several times during the day. Especially check in hairy areas of the body like the back of the neck and the scalp line.
Inspect yourself carefully for insects or ticks after being outdoors or have someone else do it.
• If you have pets that go outdoors, spray with repellent made for their breed/type. Apply the repellent according to the label and check your pet for ticks often.
The Red Cross also encourages everyone to download the free Red Cross First Aid App, giving you easy access on how to recognize or care for emergencies like tick bites, as well as other bug bites and stings. You can find the First Aid App by searching “American Red Cross” in your app store or by visiting redcross.org/apps.
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