- 1)
Avoid tick infested areas, when possible. Avoid short-cuts through
heavily wooded, tick-infested areas. Use caution when you are
entering tick-infected areas. Stay in the center of paths, avoid
sitting on the ground, and conduct frequent tick-checks.
-
- 2)
Dress properly. Wear light-colored clothing. This allows you
to more easily see ticks on your clothing and gives you the opportunity
to remove them before they can attach to your skin and feed.
Wear
a long-sleeved shirt and long pants.
This reduces the skin area exposed to ticks. Also, tuck your
shirt into your pants and pants into your socks. This keeps the
ticks on the outside of your clothing and thwarts their efforts
to crawl onto your skin. However, during warm or hot weather,
this is not practical. So, if this advice is ignored, we suggest
that you increase your vigilance in conducting tick-checks.
Use
EPA-approved tick repellents.
During the summer months, it can be inconvenient to wear pants
and long-sleeved clothing, so using repellents can help protect
yourself from ticks. Wash off the repellents when you return
inside, and children should always have an adult apply the repellent
for them.
Conduct
frequent tick-checks.
This includes a visual inspection of the clothing and exposed
skin, followed by a naked, full-body examination in a private
location. Be sure to check the scalp, behind and in the ears,
and behind any joints.
Remember
to check your pets too!
This is not only for your pets' safety but for your family's
as well. Pets can bring ticks in from outside and put you and
your family at risk for infection.
