Stay safe as warm water activities ramp up

May. 6, 2026

By Mary Wade Burnside

Summer is coming but the ticks are already here.
In fact, as the climate has continued to warm up, tick season has expanded.
And if you go without sunscreen during winter, it’s time to ramp up your skin safety routine.
Monongalia County Health Department doesn’t want to deter people from spending time outside doing the things you love.
Quite the opposite: MCHD is getting ready to launch our new Health Promotions program. One element of the program, The Wild and Wonderful Wellness Passport, encourages physical activity by offering a grand prize to individuals who get 24 stamps in a booklet by visiting different participating locations.
But we definitely want people to be armed with the knowledge and products they may need to stay safe.
May is both Skin Cancer Prevention Month and Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
Lyme disease continues to be the most diagnosed tickborne disease in West Virginia.
In fact, since 2000, the numbers of tick-borne diseases in the state have gone from under 50 to more than 3,300 cases of Lyme disease in 2025.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, untreated Lyme disease can produce a wide range of symptoms, depending on the stage of infection. These include fever, rash, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat and arthritis.
A tick feeds on a human or animal’s blood, and if the tick carries a disease, it can transfer Lyme to the host. If a tick is not found while still attached, signs that it had been include a bullet’s-eye mark on the skin as well as mild flu-like symptoms.
During the early stages a doctor can prescribe antibiotics to keep the illness from developing.
Later symptoms can include:
-Severe headaches and neck stiffness.
-Loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face.
-Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints.
-Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints and bones.
-Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat.
-Dizziness or shortness of breath.
-Nerve pain, shooting pains, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
To avoid ticks in the first place, steer clear of places where ticks live. Stick to trails instead of grassy areas. Wear tick repellent and treat clothing and gear with .5% permethrin. Upon returning home, check yourself, kids and pets for ticks. Take a shower and throw the clothes you were wearing in a dryer.
Jamie Moore of MCHD’s Threat Preparedness program also suggests, if possible, to tuck pants into socks so ticks cannot crawl up legs.
“The emphasis is caution and prevention,” Moore added. “Don’t avoid living your life because you’re worried about getting a tick disease. Follow precautions and keep on enjoying the outdoors.”
This goes for skin cancer as well. The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma. Melanoma is the least common and can lead to death.
Here are some tips to avoid sun damage that can turn into skin cancer from The Skin Cancer Foundation:
-Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 a.m.
-Avoid tanning and never use UV tanning beds.
-Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat (not straw) and UV-blocking sunglasses.
-Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher.
-Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.
-Keep newborns out of the sun. Use sunscreen on babies over the age of 6 months.
-Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
-See a dermatologist at least once a year for a skin exam.
If self skin checks reveal an unusual mark, make sure to get it checked out. This CDC site tells you what to look for.
Sun and exercise are great for your health and by taking some precautions, you can enjoy summer fun and stay healthy.

Mary Wade Burnside is the public information officer at Monongalia County Health Department.