Avoid this nation’s deadliest animals: They‘re all over Michigan in the summer

Every day during the summer, many of us encounter the deadliest animal in the United States and don't even realize it. That's because they're tiny enough to fit into a bottle cap. Bees, wasps and hornets kill 58 Americans every year on average, mostly by anaphylactic shock after a sting according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Take the following precautions to avoid being stung:

• Wear light colored clothing covering most of your body.
• Survey the work area; check near meters or under ledges for hives.
• Keep anti-bee spray on hand.
• Remain calm.
• Stop slowly and open the windows if a stinging insect is in your vehicle.
• Carry an EPI Pen if you've had past reactions.
• Communicate any allergies with coworkers.

If a sting occurs:

• Remove the stinger by gently scraping it off using a clean finger or the edge of a credit card/driver's license; do not use tweezers as it can squeeze venom into the wound
• Wash the area with soap and cover with a cold compress
• Use Benadryl or a topical cream to ease pain and provide itch relief

Tick-borne illnesses are other bug-related hazards. Lyme Disease is commonly associated with ticks and the CDC reports more than 300,000 cases every year. Another tick-borne disease is Powassan Encephalitis.

To avoid ticks:

• Wear a hat, light-colored clothes, and long shirt and pants tucked into shoes, socks.
• Use insect repellents containing DEET on skin or clothing.
• Use insecticide such as Permethrin, only on clothes, for greater protection.
• Avoid tick habitats (brushy, overgrown grassy, woody areas).
• Check skin, clothes for ticks each time you come indoors.
• Wash and dry clothes at high temperature after exposure.

If you find a tick on yourself or a loved one, promptly remove it with tweezers and clean with soap or antiseptic.

Symptoms of Lyme disease

• Expanding circular rash (red bulls-eye) at site of bite
• Fever
• Joint and muscle pains
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbance
• Swollen lymph nodes

Symptoms of Powassan Encephalitis

• Fever
• Headache
• Partial paralysis
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Coma

If you have the symptoms above, seek medical attention promptly.