Workplace Wellness Insights: Beware of Ticks and Lyme Disease This Summer
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Each month, we send out our RK Healthy Workforce wellness newsletter. In it, we provide health and wellness tips for your work and life. Unfortunately, Lyme disease is very prevalent in the northeastern region of the United States. According to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing. It’s important to learn about Lyme disease and tick safety.
Spending time outdoors is a wonderful way to bond with family and friends and enjoy nature. Before you head out into the great outdoors, you need to be aware of a danger lurking not so deep in the woods — Lyme disease.
There are three main stages of Lyme disease:
- Early Localized Lyme Disease: A rash develops on the skin at the site of the bite within one to 31 days. It resembles a bull’s-eye and slowly expands followed by flu-like symptoms.
- Early Disseminated Lyme Disease: Skin, joint, nervous system and heart complications occur.
- Late Persistent Lyme Disease: Infected person develops severe joint, nervous system and heart complications.
As you can see, prevention and early recognition of Lyme disease is critical for your well-being.
The bacteria from a tick bite do not transmit into your bloodstream for 36 to 48 hours, which lessens your chance of contracting the disease if you find ticks and remove them immediately:
- Use tweezers to grab the tick firmly where it has entered the skin.
- Slowly, yet firmly, pull the tick directly outward.
- Once the tick is removed, clean the bite thoroughly with a disinfectant and watch the area for any symptoms.
To avoid coming in contact with a tick, wear light colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants when in wooded areas, and walk in the center of trails to avoid overhanging trees or bushes. You’ll also want to keep long hair tied back. Finally, once inside be sure to wash your body and clothing and inspect yourself for ticks. Inspect your dog’s coat too if he or she has been playing in wooded areas.
Our monthly wellness newsletter also provides healthy recipes, seasonal tips and other valuable resources. In July, other topics include:
- Sunscreen and You
- Clearing the Confusion on Food Expiration Dates
- Cucumber Blueberry Salad
If you would like to receive this newsletter in your email each month, contact your R&K client manager. Also, check back with us next month for more workplace wellness insights.
Rose & Kiernan, Inc. offers workplace wellness support through our signature platform RKHealthy Workforce. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us here or by calling (800) 242-4433.
