YORK – State officials encouraged visitors to PA’s state parks and forests to take precautions to prevent tick bites and Lyme disease while enjoying outdoor recreation this summer. To help residents plan outdoor activities safely, the PA Department of Health maintains an online dashboard showing where ticks are prevalent so people can take precautions. Representatives from the PA Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection visited Sam S. Lewis State Park in York County to highlight the importance of preventing tick bites and Lyme disease. Tips for tick bite prevention include covering exposed skin and wearing light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks; use EPA-approved insect repellent for tick prevention; before heading outdoors, treat shoes, clothes, and gear with permethrin; after coming indoors, check yourself, children, and pets thoroughly for ticks and remove any promptly. Also, shower soon after spending time outside to help wash away ticks that may have gone unnoticed and place clothes in the dryer on high heat to kill any remaining ticks.
