Preventing Ticks by Jane Thurnell-Read

When you’re outside in spring and summer, prevent tick bites and reduce your risk of tick-borne disease by following these tips.

Gardening, camping, hiking and  just playing outdoors can be healthy and fun activities, but don't forget about the ticks that may be in the same environment. Fortunately there are several tactics you can use to prevent tick bites and reduce your risk of tick-borne disease.

Some species and some life stages of ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see, but all hungrily look for animals and people to bite. Depending on the species, you can find ticks in various environments, often in or near wooded areas. You may come into contact with ticks when walking through infested areas or by brushing up against infested vegetation (such as leaf litter or shrubs). Ticks also feed on mammals and birds, which play a role in maintaining ticks and the pathogens they carry.

Protect Yourself from Tick Bites

Insect repellents can be effective, but many people are concerned about the long-term safety of exposure to these powerful chemicals. If you live in or are visiting an area where ticks are a problem, here are some things you can do to reduce your risk of having a tick problem whether or not you use insect repellent:

• Always walk in the centre of trails, in order to avoid ticks.  Ticks live in moist and humid environments, particularly in or near wooded or grassy areas. You may come into contact with ticks during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through vegetation such as leaf litter or shrubs.
• Wear light-coloured clothing, which allows you to see ticks crawling on your clothing. Placing clothes into a dryer on high heat effectively kills ticks.
• Tuck your pant legs into your socks so that ticks cannot crawl up inside of your pant legs. Some ticks can crawl down into shoes and are small enough to crawl through most socks. When travelling in areas with lone star ticks (which are associated with Southern tick-associated rash illness, ehrlichiosis, and possibly Rocky Mountain spotted fever) you should examine your feet and ankles to ensure that ticks are not attached.
• Perform Daily Tick Checks. Check your entire body for ticks after being outdoors in a problem area. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body and remove any tick you find. Alternatively ask a friend to help you. Specifically 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
Under the arms
In and around the hair
Between the legs
Around the waist

• Check your pets for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on pets.
  If you live in a tick area, provide a vegetation-free play area for any children. Keep play areas and playground equipment away from away from shrubs, bushes, and other vegetation. If you have deer in the neighbourhood, remove plants that attract deer and construct physical barriers to discourage deer from entering your garden.

What to Do If You Are Bitten by a Tick

Remove an attached tick as soon as you notice it. Watch for signs of illness such as rash or fever, and see a health care provider if these develop. For fully detailed information about tick removal, see the Rocky Mountain spotted fever Web site.

Your risk of acquiring a tick-borne illness depends on many factors, including where you live, what type of tick bit you, and how long the tick was attached. If you become ill after a tick bite, see a health care provider.