Conserving Nantucket
Please use the trash receptacles located throughout town and at island beaches . You may also dispose of garbage and recyclables – at no charge – at our landfill at 188 Madaket Road . Summer hours ( May 1-September 30 ) are 7am-3pm Monday through Friday , and 8am-12pm Saturday and Sunday . Winter hours ( October 1-April 30 ) are 8am-3pm Monday through Friday , and 8am-12pm Saturday and Sunday .
If you would like to do more to help , Nantucket Clean Team volunteers meet each Saturday from May through November – rain or shine – for under an hour to pick up trash around the island . Log on to www . ackcleanteam . org for further information .
Deer Tick Awareness
© Michael Galvin
Deer ticks are much smaller than dog ticks , and can be the size of the period at the end of this sentence . Infected ticks can transmit Lyme disease , babesiosis , or ehrlichiosis , and – as they say – “ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure .” Deer ticks are commonly found in high-moisture sites , so exercise caution when walking in woods , marshy areas , tall grass , and along the edges of fields and lawns . Walk in the middle of trails and away from bordering shrubs .
Wearing light-colored long pants – tucked into high socks , and a long-sleeved shirt – can aid you in spotting ticks . Insect repellents with DEET ( diethyltoluamide ) will discourage ticks , and those with permethrin will kill them . It is important to use these products with caution .
After visiting a “ tick friendly ” area , always check yourself thoroughly , especially behind the knees and thighs , the back , armpits , groin and hairline . Normally , it takes between 24 and 48 hours for an attached infected tick to pass bacteria to its human host . Remove an attached tick by grabbing at the skin ’ s surface with pointed tweezers . Avoid squeezing the tick ’ s body . Clean the bite site with soap and water , and watch for symptoms . If you experience fever , an unexplained rash anywhere on your body , painful joints , swollen glands , or other flu-like symptoms , contact your physician immediately . Tick-borne diseases can be effectively treated with antibiotics , provided an early and accurate diagnosis is made .
For additional information , call Nantucket Cottage Hospital at 508-825-8100 or the Nantucket Health Department at 508-228-7226 . nantucketchamber . org • 25