All New Yorkers Encouraged to Do This Daily ‘Check’

If you live in Upstate New York, officials are asking that you start doing this "check" every day because it could save you from getting extremely ill.

As summer begins across New York, most of us will spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying various summer activities. Swimming, walking, hiking, and camping are some of the popular things people enjoy doing, but remember that doing those things can also put many at risk.

New York officials are warning folks that if you do anything outside this summer, make sure you check yourself for ticks as soon as you get inside.

Tick Problems in New York

Ticks have become a major health problem across New York, especially from spring through fall, as they can carry serious illnesses like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis, according to the CDC.

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Unfortunately, over the last few years, New York has experienced a tick explosion, as reports state that the tick population is at an all-time high. These small, dangerous, and oftentimes sneaky bugs live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas and are often found along hiking and walking trails, playgrounds, and in many backyards, so if you spend time outdoors, now is the time to take precautions.

Daily Tick Check for New Yorkers

Health officials across New York are encouraging all New Yorkers to do a daily tick check to prevent tick bites and the potential diseases they may carry. The Saratoga County Department of Health recently shared an easy way to perform a daily tick check that most of us can easily follow...

What to Do If You Find a Tick

If you find a tick on the body, make sure to remove it as soon as possible by using tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull it in a steady, upward motion. Once it's removed, wash the area with a disinfectant and pay close attention to how you feel over the next few days. If you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Never Do This When Removing a Tick

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, never touch a tick with your bare hands (DO NOT use your fingers to remove it), do not squeeze the body of the tick, and never put alcohol, nail polish remover, or Vaseline on it.