TIPS FROM FLORIANE, A MOUNTAIN GUIDE
Wear suitable clothes
Ticks often hide in the forest, on the ground, on low branches and in the grass (sometimes, in gardens). Hikers must therefore protect their legs as a priority. Wear:
- Trousers instead of shorts . There are adjustable trousers which you can turn into shorts when walking in non-wooded areas, places without high grass, then they can be re-zipped into trousers when in risk areas.
- A long-sleeved shirt, instead of a t-shirt.
- A hat. In actual fact, the fine skin of long-haired leather represents, just like the fronts of knees or the inside of elbows, fine skin greatly appreciated by ticks.
Tip: where the clothing is light, you can see ticks more clearly and therefore more easily get rid of them after hiking or when stopping for a rest.
If you stop for a break in the forest or a clearing, do not hesitate to protect yourself by placing a plaid on the ground.
Tip: it is a good idea to tuck trouser bottoms into socks, to prevent any parasites from getting in. Ok, it does not look great, but it is very effective.
Use a repellent
For excellent protection, you can also use an insect and tick repellent applied to your skin and/or your clothing. Warning, some products are not suitable for children. Always take tick tweezers with you in your first aid kit
After hiking, check
Once your hike has finished, check that you have not been bitten.~
To do this, check your entire body, from your head to your toes, for ticks. If a tick has bitten you, as seen earlier, the safest thing is to remove it with tick tweezers, cleaning the bite area. See your GP if you have any doubts.