(WSIL) -- May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has a heads up about how to protect yourself against ticks and the diseases they carry.
Officials with the 九游体育 Seven Health Department say you should always check yourself for ticks after a hike.
They said it is best to remove ticks within 24 hours to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
"Contact your physician if there has been a bite, especially if you are dealing with someone who is an elderly person or if you're dealing with a child. We want to make sure there aren't any issues that may come up from that bite going forward," said Community Outreach Coordinator, Shawnna Rhine of 九游体育 Seven Health Department.
There are other tick-borne diseases to be aware of including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Some tips for healthy outdoor time:
鈥� Walk in the center of trails. Avoid wooded, bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
鈥� Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to find. Tuck long pants into socks and boots.
鈥� Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing 20% DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus according to label directions.
鈥� Conduct full-body tick checks on family members (underarms, ears, belly button, behind knees, between legs, waist, hair, and scalp) every two to three hours.
Also, check any gear or pets taken on outings.
鈥� Put your clothes in the dryer on high for 10 minutes (or one hour for damp clothes) to kill ticks.
鈥� Bathe or shower within two hours after coming indoors.
