The Rise Of Tick Season: How To Protect Yourself From Bites

The Rise Of Tick Season: How To Protect Yourself From Bites
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Ticks are waking up and ready to find a new host. As the weather heats up and people head outside, it’s important to know how to prevent illnesses carried by these bugs.

There are several diseases from ticks that you should be aware of, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, encephalitis and tularemia.

Ticks are usually active when the temperature is above 45 degrees Fahrenheit, so they’re often found in wooded areas or bushes where they can latch onto you or your pet as you brush past them. Although ticks are being “eradicated” from some areas, they’re still a problem in others.

They’re very small, so it’s important to do daily tick checks on yourself and your pets.

To protect yourself from tick bites when outdoors, this is what you need to do:

  • Wear long sleeves and pants tucked into your boots or socks when walking in tall grasses or areas where ticks might be active. Consider wearing light colored clothing so they can be easily spotted if they get on you.
  • Avoid light-colored clothing and socks when outdoors in areas where ticks are common, such as wooded areas, wooded trails and brushy areas that look like they might be thick with brush but aren’t actually dense enough for ticks to hide in.
  • Use repellents that have 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin for protection that lasts several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth.
  • Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may be protective longer.
  • Check your body for ticks at least once a day after spending time outside, especially after coming indoors from tick-infested areas like wooded areas or animal habitats.

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Anna is an avid blogger with an educational background in medicine and mental health. She is a generalist with many other interests including nutrition, women's health, astronomy and photography. In her free time from work and writing, Anna enjoys nature walks, reading, and listening to jazz and classical music.

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