The warm weather has brought ticks back to the area and Lambton Public Health wants you to be prepared.
The department is reminding residents to protect themselves from ticks and Lyme disease when outdoors.
Health Protection Supervisor Lori Lucas says being aware of tick habitats and wearing the proper clothing and bug spray can help you to avoid being bitten.
"Ticks like tall grass, bushes and wooded areas, so when possible stick to trails and avoid direct contact with plant growth," she says. "You can use some protective clothing like long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks, closed-toed shoes and a hat, and also use bug repellent with DEET."
Lucas says checking for ticks after an outing, especially around the scalp, groin area and armpits is another way to protect yourself.
If you find a tick on your person, Lucas says use tweezers to grasp the tick's head as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out using steady pressure. Do not twist, squeeze or burn the tick.
Not all black-legged ticks carry bacteria, and even if the tick is positive, the risk of getting Lyme disease is low.
The most common symptoms include a skin rash, fever and aches.
For more information about ticks or Lyme disease visit lambtonhealth.on.ca.