🕷️ Ticks 101: What Every Outdoor Enthusiast Should Know
It’s summer! With warm weather and sunshine, families are out and about enjoying the beautiful days!
But not only are families active, so are ticks.
Doing tick checks should be a part of your daily routine. Even if you’re not the one outside, your four-legged pets can bring ticks into your home. Here are some tick bite prevention strategies to add to your checklist, especially if you enjoy the outdoors.
Dress Smart
Wear light-colored clothing, long sleeves, and tuck pants into your socks. Ticks tend to climb up seeking warm areas.
Use Repellents
Apply EPA-approved repellents with 20–30% DEET on exposed skin. You should also treat clothing, boots, and gear with permethrin. This kills ticks on contact and remains effective through several washes.
Stay On The Trails
Avoid walking through tall grass and leaves. Walk in the center of hiking paths to avoid areas where ticks can be lurking.
Protect Your Yard
Create a tick-safe zone by removing leaves, trimming bushes, and applying pesticides where appropriate.
Check Yourself & Pets
Shower within two hours of being outdoors and meticulously check all body areas, especially warm, hidden spots. Pets should be looked over too. Ticks can hitch a ride into your home.
If you find a tick on your body, make sure to remove it quickly and properly. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Do not twist or crush it. It’s best to seek medical attention to make sure the head of the tick isn’t stuck.
Also continue to monitor symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue, joint aches, or a bullseye rash. These can appear weeks after you’ve been bitten by a tick.
By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of tick-borne illnesses and have peace of mind while enjoying every moment under the sun.
