Ticks

WAYS TO PREVENT TICK BITES

Pets can get sick from Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses
Pets can bring ticks into home
To highlight the prevalence of vector-borne diseases among dogs and the importance of pet screening and testing for vector-borne diseases, go to: http://www.dogsandticks.com/map/2012/
For more information, please contact your veterinarian

Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and high socks
- Light colored clothing makes ticks easier to identify
Wear closed toe shoes and tuck pants into socks
- This makes it harder for ticks to crawl down shoes or up legs and makes them stay on the outside of your clothes

If using an insect repellent with DEET, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using repellents with 20-30% DEET
- DEET is safe for individuals older than 2 months of age
When putting repellent on children, an adult should apply it for them
- NEVER APPLY REPELLENT TO A CHILD'S FACE OR HANDS
For an EPA list of approved repellents, go to: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you
A 0.5% permethrin (insecticide) solution may be applied to outdoor clothing
- NEVER USE PERMETHRIN DIRECTLY ON SKIN
- Application must be allowed to thoroughly dry on clothes before wearing
  - Recommended dry time is 24-48 hours
- Permethrin application will last through multiple washes

Conduct "tick checks" on yourself, your children, and your pets
- Remember ticks like to go to areas of the skin that are thin and somewhat hidden
- Key areas to check are:
  - 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
Place clothes worn outside in a dryer for 10 minutes on high (if clothes are dry) or 60 minutes on high (if wet)
- This kills ticks that have tagged along on your clothes
- If clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended
Take a shower to wash any ticks that may not have been seen
- Showering within 2 hours of being in a tick-infested area reduces the risk of some tickborne diseases

Mow lawns frequently and remove cut grass and leaves
Use wood chips or gravel as a barrier between lawns and wooded areas
Remove woodpiles or stack wood neatly in dry areas away from house to prevent rodent harborage
Keep tables, swing sets, play equipment, etc. away from woods, shrubs, and tall grass
- Place them in a sunny location, if possible

Obtain and use fine-tipped tweezers
Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible
Pull upward with steady, even pressure
- DO NOT TWIST OR JERK THE TICK
After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite site and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water
Throw tick away
- NEVER CRUSH TICK WITH FINGERS OR OTHER OBJECT