Lyme Disease Prevention
Planning and Preparation
COVER UP
When walking in wooded or grassy areas, wear shoes, long pants tucked into your socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat and gloves. Keep long hair tied back.
STAY ON THE TRAIL
Try to stay on cleared, well-traveled trails and avoid walking through low bushes and long grass. Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
USE INSECT REPELLENT
Repellents containing 20% or more DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) can be applied to the skin, and they can protect up to several hours.
____________________________
CHECK YOURSELF, YOUR CHILDREN, AND YOUR PETS
Be especially vigilant after spending time in wooded or grassy areas. Deer ticks are often no bigger than the head of a pin, so you may not discover them unless you search carefully. Upon returning home, clothes can be spun in the dryer for 20 minutes to kill any unseen ticks. A shower may help to remove crawling ticks, but will not remove attached ticks.
Ticks are commonly found on body parts such as:
- Back of the knees
- Around the waist
- Inside belly button
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- In and around all hair
____________________________
If you find a tick, don't panic!
To remove an attached tick, follow these steps:
- Use tweezers to gently grasp the tick by the head or mouth.
- Without squeezing or crushing the tick, pull carefully and steadily directly outward.
- Place the tick in a vial or jar of alcohol to kill it.
- Clean the bite wound with antiseptic.