Prevention of tick bite

The best way to prevent tick bites is to avoid woody areas where deer tick live. That is very difficult since none of us live in a bubble. So, a few precautions might make your time spent outdoors less likely to result in tick bites.

• Wear long sleeved shirts and pants. Tuck pants into socks when going through tall grasses and wooded areas. Wear shoes, not sandals and wear a hat or head covering. One of the hardest places to spot ticks is the scalp.
• Stick to trails when hiking.
• Keep your dog on a leash.
• Use insect repellent with a 20% or higher DEET concentration. Some people prefer spraying their clothing with permethrin but it must be done before you put the clothes on. Permethrin should never be put on the skin.
• Tick-proof your yard by clearing brush and keeping woodpiles in sunny areas.
• Check your children, yourself, and your pets for ticks. Be especially watchful after you’ve spent outdoors in a wooded or grassy area.
• Remove a tick as soon as possible. Don’t use your finger, use a tweezers. (Tick removal instructions). Once removed crush it (again don’t use your fingers). Apply antiseptic to the bite.
• Remember, you can get Lyme disease more than once. Don’t assume if you’ve had it before, you’re immune to it.