Protect yourself, your family and pets against tick-borne illnesses. Take precautions to avoid tick bites:
Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails so plants do not brush against you.
Wear light-colored protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, closed-toe boots or shoes, and a head covering or hat. Tuck long pants into your socks and tuck in your shirt.
Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin (except the face). Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Always follow product instructions carefully.
Check yourself, your children and pets, and outdoor gear often for ticks.
Reduce tick habitats around your home by clearing leaf litter, mowing grass, cutting back weeds, and keeping the ground clean under bird feeders.
If you are bitten by a tick, promptly and properly remove it:
Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick near the skin and pull upward with slow, even pressure. Do NOT twist or jerk.
Do NOT burn the tick or smother it with oils or petroleum jelly, as this may cause the tick to spit up infected saliva into your skin.
Once the tick is removed, disinfect the bite area and wash hands with soap and water.
Make a note of the date you were bitten in case you need medical care later.
Tips to help prevent mosquito breeding:
Discard old tires, buckets, drums or any water holding containers.
Poke holes in tires used as swings or bumpers on docks.
Keep roof gutters and downspouts clear of debris.
Keep trash containers covered.
Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and store indoors when not in use.
Drain unused swimming pools.
Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water.
Change the water in bird baths and plant urns at least once a week.
Store boats upside down or drain rainwater weekly.
