Eeek! I Found a Tick. Now What?

Posted on May 4th, 2017

Some of the statistics are a little scary. News about Lyme disease from tick bites is all over the news.

But you don’t have to stay indoors.

A daily tick check after outdoor adventures and proper removal can help keep you and your family safe.

Here’s what you need to know from the Centers for Disease Control (with a downloadable guide):

Ticks need to be attached for 36 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme disease bacteria, making a daily tick check a vital method of prevention.
Use insect repellent containing a 20 percent concentration of DEET on clothes and skin. Use permethrin on tents and gear, but not exposed skin.
Stay out of the most tick-prone areas such as high grass cover or leaf litter, particularly in May, June, and July.
Walk in the center of trails.
If you find a tick, remove it right away. The CDC offers these instructions: “Grasp the tick firmly and as close to the skin as possible. With a steady motion, pull the tick’s body away from the skin. Do not be alarmed if the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic.”
When you get home, toss clothes from the outdoors in a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill any ticks that might be attached to clothing.