Tick Talk: How to keep yourself safe from these pesky critters

Key Takeaways

• Tick-borne illness is on the rise.
• Ticks tend to live in wooded areas, especially where deer and rodents live.
• Long sleeves and long pants can help prevent tick bites.
• For best results, remove ticks as soon as they’re identified.
• Pets can bring tick-borne disease into the home, so check their fur thoroughly.

With warmer weather here, it’s important to be mindful of tick-borne disease, which is on the rise. Be on the lookout for ticks on yourself, your loved ones, and your pets, so we can have a fun and safe summer.

Where do ticks live?

Ticks commonly live in and around rural and wooded areas, areas with tall grass, or along the edges of forests and lawns, especially where deer and rodents live.

What can I do to prevent tick bites?

I recommend wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants that can be tucked into socks. Consider wearing brightly colored clothing because that will make it easier to identify ticks.

How do I check for ticks? 

It is important to check for ticks, especially after coming home from a tick-prone area. Places to look are where ticks may hide, so underneath the kneecaps, at the waistline, around the armpits, or on the scalp, especially if you have a lot of hair.

If I find a tick, what’s the best way to remove it?

If you notice a tick, the sooner you can remove it, the better the outcome. You can utilize fine-tipped tweezers to remove it. You want to get close to the skin, pull straight out, and then clean the area with soap and water.

You do not want to use chemicals or fire or press on other areas of the tick because you don’t want to transfer infections or facilitate transfer of infections to yourself, which will cause more harm than good.

What are the symptoms of a tick-borne illness?

Symptoms can vary. They can include fevers, chills, muscle and joint aches, and rashes, but some patients don’t experience all these symptoms.

What does a rash from a tick bite look like?

Tick-borne disease can present with a variety of rashes. Classically, Lyme disease may present with a bullseye rash, however, tick bites can present with a variety of rashes. Letting your healthcare provider know you may have been bitten by a tick and have a rash is very important.

When should I seek medical attention?

I would seek medical attention if you have a fever, a worsening rash, or if the tick has been embedded on your skin for more than 36 hours because, at that point, you could benefit from more medical workup and/or treatment.

What about my pets?

For those with animals, especially indoor/outdoor pets, it’s important to take a look and see if they have any ticks, so that we’re not bringing them into our households.

Is summer the only time of year I should be concerned about ticks?

Tick-borne disease peaks in late spring to early fall. However, some ticks can bite whenever temperatures are above freezing, making year-round awareness very important.

For more information on ticks and cases of Lyme disease in your area, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at CDC.gov/Lyme