Officials from the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department say residents can take precautions in order to keep themselves and their families tick free.

They say people should wear light colored clothing to easily spot ticks, and wear enclosed shoes, long pants and long-sleeves, and tuck pant legs into socks or boots.

To keep the bugs away, people can use bug spray containing 20 percent or more of DEET and spray on shoes, clothing and hats. Avoid spraying directly onto the skin.

Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.

Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors to wash off and more easily find ticks.

Put clothing in the dryer for at least 10 minutes to kill possible unfound ticks.

Most importantly, do a full-body tick check at the end of each day. The sooner a tick is removed from the body, the chances of the tick transmitting the bacteria decrease.

People who find ticks on their body should stay calm. Not all deer ticks are infected, and the risk of Lyme disease is significantly reduced if the tick is removed in less than 24 hours, county health officials said.

To remove a tick, use a pair of pointed tweezers, and grasp the tick by the head or mouth, where they enter the skin. Firmly pull the tick in a steady, upward motion. Do not jerk or twist the tick. Clean the bite wound with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide.

Monitor the site of the bite for the next 30 days for the appearance of the rash. People who develop a rash or flu-like symptoms should contact their health care provider immediately, county health officials said.

More info: 315-386-2325