Tick Bite Prevention To Keep You Safe This Summer
A tick bite and tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months. With most of us now venturing outside more often as summer is in full swing, it’s important to know how to prevent ticks from giving you Lyme Disease and other tick-related diseases.
Before You Go Out:
1. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear
2. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered bug repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), Para-Menthane-Diol (PMD), or 2- undecanone. Always follow product instructions. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old
3. Stay out of wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter
4. Always walk in the center of trails – not the edges
When You Come In:
5. Check your clothes for ticks. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Wash clothes in hot water (cold and warm water will not kill ticks) and dry clothes thoroughly in a dryer on high heat. Once clothes are fully dried, repeat drying cycle for 10 additional minutes on high
6. Examine all gear and your pets thoroughly.
7. Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases.
8. Check your entire body for ticks after being outdoors, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child’s body for ticks:
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- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- Inside belly button
- Back of the knees
- In and around the hair
- Between the legs
- Around the waist
At Security Specialists, we believe that if you exercise just a little caution, you and your kids can have a safe, secure and fun summer outdoors!
