Spring brings relief from the cold, but it is the most changeable season. One day you need only a shirt and the next you need a jacket again. Dress in layers you can add or remove.
- Melting snow and heavy rain can cause local flooding. Never drive through a flooded road, since shallow water can stall or sweep a car.
- Keep children away from fast moving streams and rivers during the melt.
- Ask whether your tenant insurance covers water damage if you live in a basement unit.
- Rain is frequent, so an umbrella and a waterproof jacket are worth having.
Allergies and ticks
Pollen rises as plants bloom and many people get hay fever for the first time here. Antihistamines from a pharmacy help. Spring is also the start of tick season in wooded and grassy areas. Wear long sleeves, use repellent and check your skin after a hike. Remove any attached tick carefully with tweezers and see a doctor, since Lyme disease is treatable when caught early.
After a tick bite
Remove an attached tick promptly with clean, fine tipped tweezers. Clean the area and note when and where the bite happened. Contact a healthcare professional or pharmacist for current advice, especially if a rash or illness develops.