As the weather gets nicer, people begin to flock outside. With May being Lyme Disease Awareness Month, there’s no better time to make people aware of how to protect themselves from ticks… And what to do if they do encounter a meeting with one of those little home wreckers! I’m all for spending time outside, just make sure that you have the knowledge, awareness, and vigilance to remain safe from ticks!
Strategies for Avoiding Ticks:
Avoid Tick Habitat
Ticks are usually found near the ground, in leaf litter, grasses (especially tall grasses), bushes, and fallen logs. Avoid high risk activities such as playing in leaves, gathering firewood, and leaning or sitting on tree trunks or fallen trees. When you hike, remain on the cleared trails.
Dress Defensively
Cover your skin by wearing shoes, socks, long pants, and long sleeves. White or light-colored clothing is especially useful because it is easier to spot ticks. As goofy as it may look, tucking long socks over your pants will grant you another layer of protection because the ticks won’t be able to crawl under the pant leg. Tie back long hair and wear a hat.
Permethrin is a repellent that can be applied to clothing as an extra layer of protection. You can either buy permethrin and spray the clothing yourself (protection lasts for 5-6 washings), or you can purchase clothing that is pre-treated (protection lasts for 70 washings). If you’re going to spray the clothing yourself, be sure to spray both the inside and outside of clothes. Also, be sure to spray footwear with permethrin to prevent ticks from crawling up your shoes.
Use Repellant on Exposed Skin
Studies show that repellents with DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil are the most effective.
Check for Ticks
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS check for ticks! When you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, periodically inspect your clothing and skin for ticks. Immediately brush off those that aren’t attached and remove any that are. I like the use the “buddy system” here — Check loved ones for ticks, and ask them to check you for ticks. The more eyes, the better!
Shower Immediately
Immediately after getting home from a day spent outside, take a shower. This will wash away any unattached ticks and will be a good chance to thoroughly inspect yourself for ticks once you remove the barrier of clothing. Use both your eyes and hands to inspect all inches of your body. Feel for any bumps that may be embedded ticks. Do not overlook “hidden” places, such as the groin, armpits, back of knees, belly button, and scalp. Parents should teach their children to get used to inspecting themselves for ticks, but then also check their children as well.
Hot Dryer
Run your clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes before you wash them to kill any ticks that may be there.
Protect your Pets
Any animal owner or lover knows that ticks can infect pets, also. In addition, animals can be the carriers of ticks into the house. Be sure to inspect your furry friends thoroughly, and talk to your vet about tick protection for your pets.
If a Tick Bites You:
Do:
Remove the tick immediately!
Use fine-point tweezers or a special tick-removing tool. Grasp the tick as closely to the skin as possible.
If you do not have tweezers, protect your fingers with a tissue as you remove the tick.
Pull the tick straight out with steady, even pressure.
Disinfect the bite area and thoroughly wash your hands
Save the tick for testing (alive is best!) in a small bottle or plastic bag with a green leaf and damp piece of tissue.
Label it with your name, date, site of bite, and how long the tick was attached.
DO NOT:
Squeeze, twist, or squash it
Burn it with a match
Cover it with Vaseline
Tick Testing
Many times, you won’t know whether a tick has bit you or not. So, my rule is: If you see a tick, get it tested. You may send the tick to these agencies to see if the tick is carrying the pathogens that can lead to tick-borne illnesses:
Tick Report: https://www.tickreport.com/
There is a Time for Hypervigilance…
Many people who have Lyme Disease never saw the tick that infected them (I didn’t!). So, whether or not you find a tick, stay alert for symptoms of tick-borne illness. A bull’s-eye rash indicates Lyme disease, although it is not uncommon to have a different rash or none at all. Typical early symptoms include flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, nausea, chills) or joint pain and dizziness. Consult a physician as needed.