Be Aware of Ticks with These 5 Tick Prevention Tips
By Illinois Lyme Association
Though ticks are tiny, they pose a significant threat to human health throughout Illinois, carrying infections such as Lyme disease. Therefore, protecting yourself against ticks is of the utmost importance to avoid the potential risks associated with Lyme and a host of other tick-borne diseases. Taking preventive measures whenever you’re outdoors can greatly reduce the risk of contracting a tick-related illness. Here are some steps you can take to protect you and your family.
1. Be Prepared.
The ticks’ ranges are spreading rapidly in Illinois, and tick-borne disease, including Lyme and alpha-gal syndrome, are on the rise. When you head outdoors, be on the lookout for tick habitats. Although just about any outdoor space is fair game for ticks, they’re often found in wooded areas, tall grass and brush, piles of leaves, and on other animals. Whenever possible, stick to maintained outdoor areas, such as paved paths and walkways, or the center of the trails to reduce the chances of coming in contact with ticks.
2. Treat Everything.
Treat your clothes and gear and with permethrin, an insecticide to help kill ticks. Apply permethrin according to the instructions on the label. Be sure to spray it in well-ventilated areas, and hang your items to dry. Permethrin usually lasts for several washes.
Note: Permethrin should not be applied to the skin.
Want more information on how to apply permethrin? Check out our helpful video here.
Use caution when spraying permethrin around cats. It can cause neurological symptoms in cats when wet.
3. Tape and Dry.
When you come inside, use a masking tape lint roller over your clothes to help remove ticks that may be crawling on you. Then, put your clothes into the dryer on high heat for 10 min to kill any remaining ticks. If your clothes need to be laundered, wash them in hot water — medium and cool temperatures won’t kill ticks.
4. Take a Shower.
If possible, shower within 2 hours of coming indoors to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and remove unattached ticks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After your shower, perform a head-to-toe tick check, inspecting every fold and crease in the body, even between your toes. If necessary, use a mirror to view hard-to-see areas.
5. Test the Tick.
If you’re bitten by a tick, remove it carefully with a pair if fine-pointed tweezers, and save it for testing. Place the tick in a sealable bag, and send it to a tick testing site. Do not crush the tick.
Additional tick resources are available here:
INHS Medical Entomology lab (free tick identification)
TickReport (tick testing)
Ticknology (tick testing)
There is a fee for tick testing. Be sure to follow company directions for mailing. Tick testing is not to be used as a diagnostic; however, it is a helpful tool.
If you would like a printable version of this information, download our General Factsheet here.
References
Preventing Tick Bites. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html#:~:text=Check%20your%20clothing%20for%20ticks.&text=Tumble%20dry%20clothes%20in%20a,water%20will%20not%20kill%20ticks.
