Reducing exposure to ticks is the best way to reduce the risk of Lyme disease.
Before and during time outdoors, specific steps include:
- Treat clothing and gear with products that contain 0.5% permethrin
- Apply an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone
- Wear long pants and tuck them into socks or boots
- Avoid walking in wooded areas with high grass and leaf litter
- Walk in the center of trails
After returning indoors, it is helpful to:
- Check clothing, gear, and pets for ticks and remove any that are found
- Wash clothing in hot water and tumble dry on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any attached ticks
- Shower within two hours of coming indoors
- Conduct a full body check for ticks
Take steps to reduce the risk of ticks in your backyard, including:
- Clear tall grasses and brush
- Create barriers (e.g., 3 ft wide section of gravel) on the edges of wooded areas
- Mow the lawn frequently
- Stack wood neatly and in a dry area
- Remove old furniture and trash