Preventing Tick Bites
Preventing Tick Bites
Ticks are most active during the warmer months from April – September. Take extra care during these months to prevent you and your family members from being bitten by a tick with these helpful tips provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Before Going Outdoors
- Dress in long pants, long sleeves, and a hat. Wear shoes or boots. Pull socks up over pant legs.
- Use insect repellents that contain 20 to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on exposed skin and clothing. Using a product with this concentration of DEET will provide protection lasting several hours.
- Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
- Use repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A list may be found at http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/.
While Outdoors
- Avoid walking through shrubs, tall grasses, and areas leaf litter since ticks prefer these types of environments.
- Walk in the center of hiking trails.
After Returning Indoors
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible to wash off any ticks.
- Put clothing in the dryer on high heat to kill ticks.
- Examine tents and camping gear.
- Examine skin and hair thoroughly. Check under the arms, the backs of the legs, ankles, ears, the waist, and neck areas.
- Check pets for ticks immediately after they have spent time outdoors.
