Although the warm weather is just starting in the region, from what we’re hearing, it’s the worst season for ticks that anyone has seen. Tick season is in full swing and with it, the danger of contracting one of several nasty infections that are becoming all too common in the area.

But ticks shouldn’t keep you out of the woods, if that’s something you enjoy doing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has these suggestions to avoid contact with ticks:

Before going outdoors

• Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.

• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, permethrin-treated clothing and gear can be purchased.

• Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone. Always follow product instructions. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children younger than age 3.

Avoiding contact with ticks

• Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.

• Walk in the center of trails.

After coming indoors

• Check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Any ticks that are found should be removed.

• Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after coming indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.

• Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats and daypacks.

• Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce the risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.

• Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child’s body for ticks: Under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs and around the waist.

Don’t let ticks ruin your summer outdoors. But be smart about it and take precautions.