Enjoy the outdoors, without a tick

With described video

Transcript

Transcript - Enjoy the outdoors, without a tick

A forest scene transitions to a field of tall grass.

Do you know what can be lurking in wooded and grassy areas? Infected blacklegged ticks.  They can spread the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, a potentially serious illness.  Here's what you need to know about it.

Several ticks crawl up tall blades of grass.

Text on-screen - Lyme Disease

Zoom in closer to one of the ticks whose legs and mouth parts are moving.

Many of us spend time outdoors… to enjoy activities like hiking, camping, walking… or to do our job.

A stick-figure walks in a grass field.  The background and stick-figure's appearance change to represent each of the following activities: hiking, camping, and walking.

Text on-screen - Hiking, Camping, Walking

The stick-figure then appears with a hard-hat and clipboard standing next to a utility pole.

Text on-screen - Job

That's why you should know about… blacklegged ticks. They can be as tiny as a poppy seed and almost invisible to the human eye.

Zoom into a tiny silhouette shape of a tick on a tall blade of grass.  A magnifying lens appears over the tick and a detailed image of the tick appears and zooms larger.

They are most often found in forests and wooded areas, but they can also live in shrubs, tall grass, and even in a pile of leaves.

A diagram appears around an image of a tick with icons and on-screen text for the following four places: Forests, Shrubs, Tall Grass, Leaves.

Ticks need blood to survive, so they attach to humans or animals to feed.

An image of a tick on skin appears surrounded by icons and text for the following three words: Blood, Humans, Animals.

Some blacklegged ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, and can spread it to people by biting them.

Text on-screen - Lyme Disease Bacteria

Zoom in closer to the tick as it bites into the skin.

In some parts of Canada, cases of Lyme disease are on the rise.

Text on-screen: Cases of Lyme Disease Are on the Rise

A leafy shrub appears with two ticks on it.

Early symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, joint pain and headache.

Zoom into a branch with a tick on it.  On four leaves, icons and text for the following symptoms appear: Skin Rash, Fever, Joint Pain, Headache.

If left untreated, it could lead to more severe health issues like arthritis, abnormal heartbeat, and nervous system disorders such as dizziness, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.

A second tick is seen crawling on a different branch of the shrub.  On three of the leaves, icons and text for the following three symptoms appear: Arthritis, Abnormal Heartbeat, Nervous System Disorders.  The icon and text for "Nervous System Disorders" is replaced by icons and text of each of the following three symptoms: Dizziness, Inflammation, Numbness or Tingling.

Here's how you can prevent tick bites and protect yourself and your family so you can continue to enjoy outdoor activities:

Text on-screen - Prevention

A red bar crosses out the image of the tick.

A grassy field appears with an adult and two children.  One child is flying a kite.  The kite transforms into a clipboard.

Cover up by wearing closed-toe shoes and light-coloured long-sleeved shirts and pants and use insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin.

A pen checks two checkboxes on the clipboard as icons and text for the following two items appear around the clipboard: Cover up, Use Insect Repellent.

Here are a few things you should do every time you come in from the outdoors where you may have been exposed to ticks:

Do a full-body check for ticks on yourself and your family.

A clock appears showing 12 o'clock. An adult stick-figure enters a door from outside.  Two children appear as the adult begins to check a child for ticks.

Text on-screen - Full-body Check

Shower within two hours of coming indoors to wash off any loose ticks.

The clock now shows 1:00pm. A stick-figure is taking a shower to wash off loose ticks. 

Text on-screen - Shower Within 2 Hours

If you find an attached tick, remove it with tweezers immediately. 

Text on-screen - Remove Ticks Immediately

The clock turns into an image of an attached tick and then tweezers remove the tick from the skin.

Carefully store the tick in a sealed container and bring it to your doctor as it may help with a diagnosis.  See your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease.

Text on-screen - Bring the Tick to Your Doctor 

The tick is placed in a jar and the lid of the jar closes.  A stethoscope icon appears.

By taking these precautions, you can continue to enjoy the outdoors and protect yourself from Lyme disease.

A stick-figure appears in a grassy field.  Four icons appear showing outdoor activities.

Text on-screen - Continue to Enjoy the Outdoors

For more information on prevention, how to remove a tick, treatment, and risk areas, visit Canada.ca/LymeDisease

A clipboard appears. 

Text on-screen - For More Information

The following text items appear on the clipboard: Prevention, How to Remove a Tick, Treatment, Risk Areas

Text on-screen - Visit Canada.ca/LymeDisease

A message from the Government of Canada

Text on Screen - Canada wordmark with waving flag