YOUR HEALTH MATTERS CovingtonCares 29 Know Your Risk Mississippi's warm climate and wooded landscape create ideal conditions for ticks and mosquitoes – and both can carry serious illnesses. The good news: A few simple habits are all it takes to protect your family and still enjoy the outdoors all season long. Repellent: Your First Line of Defense • Use EPA-registered repellents with DEET (20-30%), picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin. • Treat clothing with permethrin for long-lasting tick protection. • For young children, avoid applying repellent near hands, eyes, or mouth. • Wear long sleeves and pants in wooded areas, tuck pants into socks, and choose light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot. • Shower within two hours of coming indoors to remove unattached ticks. Check for Ticks • After time outdoors, check every family member – including pets – for ticks. Focus on hidden spots: behind the knees, the hairline, armpits, and waist. • If you find one, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling straight up with steady pressure. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol and wash your hands Reduce Mosquitoes at Home • Eliminate standing water weekly – gutters, birdbaths, planters, and saucers can all breed mosquitoes. • Use screens on windows and doors and repair any tears. • Run a fan on the porch – mosquitoes avoid moving air. Seek Medical Care If You Notice: • Fever, chills, or severe headache within days of a tick bite • A bull's-eye rash or expanding red area around a bite site • Muscle aches, fatigue, or joint pain after outdoor exposure • High fever, stiff neck, or confusion after mosquito season exposure • Any signs of infection at a bite site (swelling, warmth, pus) DON'T LET THE BUGS WIN: PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY FROM TICKS AND MOSQUITOES THIS SUMMER Mississippi is blessed with long warm seasons, lush green landscapes, and plenty of reasons to spend time outdoors. But our climate also creates ideal conditions for two of summer's most persistent health threats – ticks and mosquitoes. Both are more than a nuisance. They can carry serious illnesses that affect people of all ages, from young children to older adults. The good news: With the right knowledge and a few simple habits, you and your family can enjoy the outdoors and stay well all season long. Questions about a tick bite or unusual symptoms after time outdoors? Don't wait to be seen. Contact your nearest CCH Clinic or walk in to Family Care Express in Collins or Express Care Sumrall – no appointment needed. Call 601.765.6711 or visit CovingtonCountyHospital.com to find a location near you.
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