My sister niece and I are going strawberry picking July 3rd then they are off to evening fireworks. I plan to keep tick-free over July 3rd and 4th. We are catching the end of the strawberry season. I hope the picking is good. We are outdoors more than average this summer so far. I expect increased outdoor activities will continue beyond July 4th. Enjoy your July 4th holiday with your family and keep tick-free. Add a little outdoor PPE and head outdoors for independence day celebrations..
Outdoor activities are crucial to balance the social isolation guidelines due to COVID 19. Socially distancing connection in person bridges the gap in my need for social connection. Here are a couple of my recent expeditions into nature.
The Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary trails were filled with families when we went over for some exercise. The sanctuary restricted the number of people allowed in to make socially distancing on the trails easy and required masks at all times. The families I saw focused on COVID 19 PPE rather than tick protection.
We recently booked time at Tower Hill botanical gardens, stayed 6 feet apart, talked and soaked in the feel of the earth, the sounds and smells of nature, while we caught up with friends. After an hour of walking and talking, we parted with air hugs. Social connection in a natural wooded environment is soothing and therapeutic.
Keep Tick- Free Use PPE For More Than COVID 19
Independence day is traditionally an outdoor holiday in New England. Fireworks start on July 3rd, followed by parades, cookouts, and more fireworks on the 4th. A 24-hour menu packed with outdoor fun. Make it a safe day as well. Be sure that you bring your face masks and your bug spray to the fireworks this year.
Outdoor nature time has its PPE. Bug Protection is a huge part of this. I recently wrote about teaching your kids the elements of outdoor PPE, but this can get overlooked in the rush of July 4th outdoor activity. Make sure you and your kids keep tick-free.
Tick & Mosquito PPE
I use and teach a three-tiered approach to keep tick-free. I actively protect myself and my family from tick bites. Here are the three areas to focus on addressing. For all the details, please click this link.
Minimize Access
When we are out at a cookout or in a field watching fireworks, we are in the domain of insects and arachnids(ticks, spiders) Minimize exposure. Do not sit on woodpiles or stone walls, and stay out of long grass or meadow-like growth. Bring chairs rather than lying on the green stuff. Concrete or a well-trimmed sunny lawn is less tick hospitable choice.
Repel Ticks
Keep tick-free by actively repelling ticks. Make it difficult for them to attach and bite you. Use clothing, repellents, and pesticides as necessary to make you and your family an utterly unappetizing blood meal for any ticks in the area. If they don’t get to your skin, they do you no harm.
Find And Remove
Inspect for ticks when able during the day. When you get home after the big show, inspect the kids, pets, and finally yourself. Throw the clothes in the dryer before you go to bed. You want to remove any ticks before they attach. If they don’t break the skin, they don’t harm you. If you find a tick attached, remove it promptly with a tweezers or call for the help you need right away.
It’s a holiday, stay safe from ticks and COVID 19, and enjoy the Independence Day celebrations.
Dare to Self Care’s purpose is to share and educate on Lyme disease recovery strategies. The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.