Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Outdoor Safety
Before heading onto the hiking trails of Niagara, be sure you know where you're going and
what you're doing. Check with park officials about trail conditions and weather. Be sure
your equipment is functioning properly, and don't head out alone.
Lyme Disease
Anyonewhospendsmuchtimeoutdoorsinthisregionshouldbeawareofthesymptomsof
Lyme disease. The bacterium that causes the disease is carried by the deer tick, which lives
in brush, meadows, forests, and even lawns. In early stages, the disease is easily treatable
with antibiotics, but if left unattended, it can lead to serious neurological, heart, and joint
problems.
Many— but not all —of those infected develop a red circular rash around the bite loca-
tion within three days to one month. The rash usually begins with a small red dot that ex-
pandstoadiameterofonetofiveinches.Theexpandedrashmayfeatureabrightredborder
and a hard, pale center, often resembling a bullseye on a target.
Therashisusuallyaccompaniedbyflu-likesymptoms.Thesemayincludefatigue,naus-
ea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the muscles and joints, stiff neck, swollen lymph glands,
headaches, fevers, chills, sore throat, dry cough, dizziness, sensitivity to the sun, and chest,
ear, and/or back pain.
Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks, and long pants and long-
sleeved shirts to discourage them from coming in contact with your skin. Tuck pants cuffs
into socks, and use an insect repellent with a 25-30 percent DEET content around clothing
openings and on exposed skin.
Use gloves and tweezers to remove ticks; grasp the tick's head parts as close to your
skin as possible and apply slow, steady traction. Wash both your hands and the bitten area
afterward. Do not attempt to remove ticks by burning them or coating them with anything
like nail polish remover or petroleum jelly. If you remove a tick before it has been attached
for 24 hours, you greatly reduce the risk of infection.
Crime
In Niagara Falls, New York, the state park has its own police force that caters to the needs
of visitors. The Parks Police Headquarters is located on Goat Island, which keeps response
times short and provides maximum visibility for visitors. The tourist area adjacent to the
parkispatrolledbytheNiagaraFallscitypolice.Someneighborhoodsbeyondthiszoneare
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