We love seeing our community out and active this summer — and we want to make sure you stay safe while doing it!

Lyme disease cases in Washtenaw County jumped 65% from 2024 to 2025 — that’s a significant increase, and it’s a good reminder for all of us to take a few extra precautions when we’re spending time outdoors. The good news? A little awareness goes a long way. Here are some simple steps to help protect you and your family:

• Dress for it. When you’re hiking, gardening, or just spending time in grassy or wooded areas, wear long sleeves and long pants. Tucking your pants into your socks isn’t the most fashionable look, but it works! 
  
• Use bug spray. Choose an EPA-registered repellent with DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 and apply it to exposed skin and clothing before heading out.
  
• Do a tick check. Make it a habit to check yourself, your kids, and even your pets after any time outside. Pay close attention to spots ticks love to hide — behind the knees, in the hair, under the arms, and around the waist.
  
• Remove ticks quickly. If you find one, don’t panic. Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it as soon as possible. The quicker it comes off, the lower your risk.
  
• Hop in the shower. A shower within a couple of hours of coming inside can help rinse off any ticks that haven’t attached yet.
  
• Tidy up your yard. Keeping your grass mowed and clea

If you do get a tick bite, keep an eye out for a bull’s-eye rash, fever, fatigue, headache, or muscle aches in the days and weeks that follow. These are common early signs of Lyme disease, and they can show up anywhere from 3 to 30 days after a bite. The great news is that when it’s caught early, Lyme disease responds very well to treatment.

Learn more about tick prevention, Lyme disease symptoms, and treatment at the Washtenaw County Health Department.

If you’re concerned about a bite, schedule an appointment with your provider and get checked out!

The post Protect Yourself from Lyme Disease This Season appeared first on Packard Health.

An Epidemic of Hearing LossAn estimated 26 million Americans, ages 20 to 69 have irreversible hearing loss caused by loud sounds. Up to 16% of teens have hearing loss that may have been caused by loud noise.

Recent studies show an alarming increase in noise-related hearing loss in young people.

Ears Are Delicate 

Loud noises can injure the delicate sensory cells, hair cells, in the inner ear. These cells help to convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that travel along nerves from the ear to the brain. When hair cells are damaged and then destroyed, they don’t grow back. Hearing is permanently harmed.

How Loud is Too Loud?

Sound is measured in units called decibels (dB). Sounds less than 75 dB are unlikely to harm hearing. Long or repeated exposure at or above 85 dB can cause problems.

• Normal conversation: 60 dB
• Lawn mower: 90 dB
• Chain saw: 100 dB
• Audio player at max volume with ear buds: 105 dB. There’s potential for noise damage at barely 30 minutes of exposure.
• Rock concert: 110 dB
• Gun muzzle blast, jet engine: 149 dB can cause pain and even brief exposure injures unprotected ears.

Ear Protection – 5 Things to Do 

1. Foam insert earplugs – Available in variety of shapes and sizes at pharmacy. Can be custom-made.
2. Earmuffs – Fit over entire outer ear to form an air seal. Hardware & sporting goods stores.
3. 60/60 Rule for MP3 devices – Listen at levels up to 60% of maximum volume for a TOTAL of 60 minutes a day.
4. Protect the ears of children and teens
5. Get a hearing test if you think you or a loved one might have hearing loss

The post Hearing protection – Knock out noise appeared first on Packard Health.

Spring! Time to launch into outdoor sports and recreation. As we take to our bikes, boards and scooters, head to the playground and run down the field, let’s all remember – be brain smart!

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) related to sports and recreation are on the rise in the US. A bump, blow or jolt to the head can disrupt how the brain works, sometimes seriously.
Full TBI definition »

3 things to know:
1.  Bicycling is the sport with most estimated TBI-related Emergency Room visits.
2. Children are most at risk for TBI’s, with increased severity & longer recovery.
3. More than 173,000 children are treated for sports-related TBI’s each year
Statistics from Centers for Disease Control.

Preventing Sports-related TBI’s
Helmets – Protection Plus! 

• For many recreational activities, wearing a helmet can significantly reduce risk of a serious head injury, or even save a life.
• Be sure helmet is appropriate to activity and fits properly
• “Which Helmet for Which Activity” – brochure with lots of good info about fit, features, safety, i.e., children should NOT wear helmets on playground. Published by US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Play It Safe

• Proper technique, safe practices, good sportsmanship are always in season.

All About TBI’s  – Recognize & Respond

The CDC has compiled a wealth of info on TBI’s, including:

• Concussion in sports (more than 75% of TBI’s are concussions)
• Concussions: Recognize and Respond

The post Head injuries- Play it safe appeared first on Packard Health.