Ticks can pose serious health risks during the warmer months, transmitting diseases like Lyme disease. Here’s a user-friendly guide on how to stay safe, prevent tick bites, spot ticks, remove them, and know when to seek medical help.
Preventing Tick Bites
1. Avoid Tick Habitats
- Ticks thrive in wooded, brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Stay on well-maintained trails and avoid tall grass.
2. Dress Appropriately
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and high boots. Tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from getting under your clothes. Light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks.
3. Use Tick Repellents
- Apply insect repellents with 20-30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin, which remains protective through several washings. Natural options include cedar oil, eucalyptus oil, and mixtures of essential oils like lavender and peppermint.
4. Maintain Your Yard
- Keep your yard tick-free by mowing the lawn frequently, removing leaf litter, and clearing tall grasses and brush around your home.
Checking for Ticks
1. After Outdoor Activities
- Always check your clothing, gear, and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors. Ticks can be carried into the house on these items and later attach to a person.
2. Shower Soon After Being Outdoors
- Showering within two hours of coming indoors can reduce the risk of getting Lyme disease. It’s also a good time to check for ticks.
3. Conduct a Full-Body Check
- Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to check all parts of your body, including under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs, and around the waist.
Removing Ticks
1. Use Fine-Tipped Tweezers
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick, which can cause mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin.
2. Clean the Bite Area
- After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
3. Dispose of the Tick
- Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol, sealing it in a bag, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.
Natural Repellents
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Create a spray by combining two cups of water, four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and two tablespoons of neem oil. This can be applied to clothing, skin, and even pets.
- Essential Oils: Oils such as citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and geranium can be effective tick repellents when mixed properly. For example, mix four ounces of purified water with 20 drops of eucalyptus oil for a natural repellent.
- Garlic Oil: Spray diluted garlic oil on your lawn to reduce tick populations. It needs frequent applications but is a chemical-free option.
Shop Natural Repellents Here.
When to Seek Medical Help
1. Signs of Lyme Disease
- If you develop a rash, fever, chills, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, or swollen lymph nodes within a few weeks of removing a tick, see a healthcare provider. These can be early signs of Lyme disease.
2. Tick-Borne Illness Symptoms
- Other symptoms that require medical attention include severe headaches, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or neurological symptoms such as facial palsy.
By following these preventive measures and knowing how to act if you find a tick on your body, you can enjoy the outdoors safely during tick season.
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