Final answer:
When teaching a group of teenagers about Lyme disease prevention, a nurse should emphasize wearing protective clothing, using DEET insect repellent, creating barriers with blankets when sitting on the ground and properly removing ticks with tweezers instead of fingers.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse is providing teaching regarding the prevention of Lyme disease to a group of teenagers going on a hike in a wooded area. The nurse should include several important points in the session to ensure the safety and health of the teenagers.
- Tuck pant legs into socks. This creates a physical barrier to ticks.
- Wear closed shoes when hiking. Closed shoes protect feet from tick bites.
- Apply insect repellent containing DEET. DEET is effective at repelling ticks.
- Cover the ground with a blanket when sitting. This barrier can help prevent ticks from reaching the skin.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants in light colors when in high-risk areas. Light colors make it easier to spot ticks, and long clothes protect the skin.
It is also crucial to convey the correct method of tick removal. Rather than grasping with thumb and forefinger ticks should be removed with tweezers grasping as close to the skin as possible and pulling upward with steady, even pressure. This minimizes the risk of breaking the tick and leaving parts embedded in the skin which can cause infection.
These preventative measures are essential for minimizing exposure to Lyme disease and contributing to the teenagers' overall health during their outdoor adventures.