As weather warms, take precautions against ticks

Jul 15, 2023

Danny Schroeder, Environmental Health director for the Harrison County Health Dept., and the Indiana State Dept. of Health are working to educate Hoosiers about the exposure to ticks and the danger they pose to personal health.

Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April through September).

Before going outdoors:

•Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy or wooded areas and even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.

•Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Alternatively, you can buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

•Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone. EPA's helpful search tool can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children younger than 3 years old.

•Avoid contact with ticks by walking in the center of trails and avoiding woody and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.

After coming indoors:

•Check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.

•Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats and daypacks.

•Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tick-borne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks, and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.

•Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs and around the waist of your body and your child's body for ticks.

For more information about ticks, call the Harrison County Health Dept. at 812-738-3237.

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