Prevention is the Best Medicine! With only a few simple steps you can limit tick exposure and the risk of becoming sick from a tick bite. The outdoors is meant to be enjoyed not feared, so be responsible and have fun! The spring, summer and fall are the apex of tick season, but ticks are active all year-round, and can even survive through winter as long as the temperature remains above freezing. Prevention is easy and with our simple checklist tick bites don’t have to be a constant worry. Be careful in tick habitat. These areas include:     

Leaf litter under trees and leaf piles. Long grass and brush on the edge of paths and roadsides. Unmaintained trails. Stumps, fallen logs and stone walls. The forests edge, where property meets wildlife habitat. Take precautions when in tick habitat and after:

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Stick to well-maintained trails and recreational areas. Use a tarp or tightly-woven blanket that has been treated with Permethrin when sitting on ground. Wear light-colored clothing. Items made of tightly-woven fiber are the best. Shorts are not recommended. The main idea is to create a barrier between you and the ticks and to make noticing them easier. Treat your clothing with Permethrin. This insecticide is known to both repel and kill ticks. It is not meant for use on the skin! You can also buy pretreated clothing or have your own professionally treated. Spray yourself with a skin-safe tick repellent. Do not use DEET products on any infants under 2 months old and in higher concentrations than 30% DEET on any child. Use a pet-safe tick deterrent on pets. Invest in a good tick remover or professional fine-point tweezers. On products labeled “tick twister” do not twist to remove tick! Slide as close to skin as possible against tick mouth parts and pull up. Twisting can cause tick to release pathogens into your bloodstream. Do not burn or use chemicals to remove tick. Tick check during outdoor activity and after. A quick once-over of the entire body with a lint roller is very effective for unattached ticks. Remove exposed clothing ASAP once home. Place used clothing in a dryer for 30 minutes on hot. The dry heat will kill ticks. If you don't have access to a dryer, place clothing in a plastic bag, spray with Permethrin and close. Shower immediately after getting home. This is an excellent time to do a tick check. Do not put back on tick-exposed clothing until it has been treated, either with spray or dryer. Check your pets every time they’ve been outdoors and beware of indoor/outdoor pets sleeping on furniture or bedding. Ticks can be transferred from your pet to you. Check and recheck your bedding for a few days after exposure to tick habitat for ticks that may have dropped off. Recheck yourself as well. If you find an attached tick or notice a bite, don’t panic! Remove tick, place in a bag with a damp paper towel, label with the date and time found. Photograph bite site and any rash, if one has occurred. Contact your doctor immediately and make an appointment ASAP. Demand maximum preventative treatment, 30 to 60 days, with or without a blood test! Don’t take no for answer! Educate yourself! Keep up-to-date on the world of Lyme disease and make sure you are aware of the situations you might face when attempting to receive preventative treatment for a tick bite. Be aware of current medical guidelines, research and legislation that exists. Knowledge is power! Be your own advocate! Always be sure to put your health first when you are facing possible infection with a tick-borne disease. Being proactive from the start is the best away to avoid the complications of developing a chronic infection. Don’t give up if your physician refuses to help, find a new one!

Information sourced from: LymeDisease.org, International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society and Lyme Disease Association, Inc. *Disclaimer*: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of seeing a medical professional.