Ticks can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites, called pathogens. These pathogens can spread to people or animals during a tick bite and cause them to become sick. The illnesses caused by tick bites are called tickborne diseases. The best way to avoid tickborne diseases is to prevent tick bites. Follow the steps below to protect yourself, your family, and your pets from ticks.
Before Going Outdoors
Permethrin is an EPA-registered insecticide that kills ticks and mosquitoes on contact. Products containing 0.5% permethrin can be sprayed on boots, clothing, backpacks, and other outdoor gear. Permethrin treatment lasts through many uses, even in the rain, and through several laundry cycles.
Permethrin should not be sprayed on your skin. Always read and follow the instructions on the product label. When used as directed, permethrin is a safe and effective way to prevent tick and mosquito bites. Using permethrin also reduces your risk of illnesses caused by bites from infected ticks and mosquitoes. You can buy permethrin and spray it on boots, clothing, and gear at home, or you can buy items that have already been treated. For more information about permethrin, click to view the following resources:
Insect repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reduce bites from mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks, mites, and other biting bugs. EPA-registered products are considered safe when used as directed. Repellents with one of the following active ingredients can provide protection for several hours:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD (not for use on children under 3 years old)
- IR3535
- 2-undecanone
Repellents that are not registered by the EPA, including many that are sold as ‘natural’ repellents, have not been tested and might not work as well.
Products that keep mosquitoes and other biting pests away from an area are called spatial repellents. They may include mosquito coils, aerosol sprays, or candles. While they may prevent insect bites in some cases, there is not enough data to show they can prevent mosquito and tickborne diseases. Using EPA-registered repellents and permethrin is the best way to prevent tick and mosquito bites. Use this EPA tool to look for repellents that provide a high level of protection against ticks: Find the Repellent that is Right for You | US EPA
Spray repellents on exposed skin. Do not spray repellents on the skin that will be covered by clothing. If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second. Always follow the instructions on the product label. For more information, click to view the following resource: Safely Using Repellents to Prevent Bug Bites
While Outdoors
Avoid walking in areas with brush, tall grass, or leaf piles. These are places where ticks tend to gather. Try not to walk pets in these areas.
Walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing against grass or other vegetation on the sides of trails.
After Coming Back Indoors
Check your clothing and gear for ticks after spending time outdoors. Ticks can hide in the folds of clothing or outdoor gear, like backpacks. Inspect items and remove any ticks you find before going indoors.
Examine pets. Ticks can hitch a ride into the home on pets, then attach to a person later. Carefully inspect pets and remove any ticks. Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets.
Shower soon after returning indoors. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check. Sometimes using a mirror can be helpful. Showering within two hours of coming indoors can lower your risk of Lyme disease and may lower the risk of other tickborne diseases.
Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.
Check your entire body for ticks. Conduct a full body check upon return from areas that might have ticks, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child's body for ticks:
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- Inside belly button
- Back of the knees
- In and around the hair
- Between the legs
- Around the waist
Remove attached ticks as soon as possible.
If you find a tick attached to your skin, simply remove the tick as soon as possible. You do not need to go to the emergency room, urgent care, or doctor’s office to have a tick removed. Leaving the tick attached until you receive medical care, even for a few hours, increases the chance of tickborne diseases. There are several different types of tick removal devices, but a plain set of tweezers works very well. To remove a tick:
-
1
Grasp the tick
Grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible using clean tweezers, a tick removal tool, or your fingers. Avoid squeezing the tick's body.
-
2
Pull tick up and away
Pull the tick up and away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick, because this can cause the tick’s mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, you can try to remove the mouthparts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouthparts, leave them alone. Your body will naturally push the mouthparts out over time as your skin heals. The bite area might be red and can look like a bite from a mosquito or other insect.
-
3
Get rid of tick
Get rid of the live tick by placing it in a sealed container, wrapping it tightly in tape, flushing it down the toilet, or putting it in alcohol. Do not try to crush the tick with your fingers.
-
4
Clean the bite area
After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.
If you find one tick, there may be others on your body. Do a careful tick check to look for other ticks and promptly remove them.
If you develop a rash, fever, headaches, or joint pain within 30 days after removing a tick, see a health care provider. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide an online tool to guide you through the proper steps to take after a tick bite: Tick Bite Guide | Ticks | CDC
