TICK PREVENTION
During the late spring through early fall, when ticks are most active, it is important to take precautions to avoid direct contact with them. Steer clear of wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaves and stick to the center of trails while walking. To protect yourself further, wear long pants and long sleeves, as this will help keep ticks off your body.
To keep ticks on the outside of your clothing, tuck your shirts into your pants and your pants into your socks. Additionally, wearing light-colored clothing can make it easier to spot ticks.
When it comes to insect repellents, opt for those registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and containing ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), Paraomenthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Apply repellent to exposed skin following the product instructions, and parents should apply it to their children while avoiding the hands, eyes, and mouth. Another option is treating clothing with permethrin-containing products. Clothing and gear like boots, pants, socks, and tents can be treated with products containing 0.5% permethrin, which remains protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can purchase clothing that is pre-treated with permethrin.
To ensure ticks are eliminated from clothing, wash them in hot water. Cold or medium-temperature water is not effective in killing ticks. If washing in hot water is not possible, tumble dry the clothes on low heat for 90 minutes or high heat for 60 minutes. For dry clothing, a tumble dry in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes will suffice to kill ticks. If the clothes are damp, additional drying time may be needed to ensure they are warm and completely dry.
FINDING TICKS
After returning indoors, it is crucial to bathe or shower as soon as possible, ideally within two hours. This will help wash off any ticks that may be crawling on your body and make it easier to locate them. To ensure thoroughness, use a handheld or full-length mirror to conduct a comprehensive tick check, examining all parts of your body.
For parents, it’s important to check children for ticks in specific areas, including under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and particularly in their hair.
Remember to inspect your gear and pets for ticks as well. Ticks can hitch a ride into your home on clothing and pets, potentially attaching to a person later on. Take the time to carefully examine your pets, outerwear, and day packs for any signs of ticks.
REMOVING TICKS
When removing a tick, utilize fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as near to the skin’s surface as you can. Apply upward pressure steadily and evenly. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick, as this can result in the mouthparts breaking off and remaining in the skin. If the mouthparts do break off, carefully extract them using tweezers. In case you encounter difficulty in removing the mouthparts with clean tweezers, it is best to leave them be and allow the skin to heal naturally.
Once you have successfully removed the tick, it is important to clean both the bite area and your hands thoroughly. You can achieve this by using rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or simply washing with soap and water.
Dispose of the live tick properly by submerging it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, tightly wrapping it with tape, or flushing it down the toilet. It is crucial to avoid crushing the tick with your fingers.
If you experience a rash or fever within a few weeks after removing the tick, it is advisable to seek medical attention. Make sure to inform your healthcare provider about the recent tick bite, including the time it occurred and where you likely encountered the tick.
