Ticks are more than just a nuisance. They’re also a health hazard that can cause all kinds of infections and diseases. To avoid getting sick, here are just a few anti-tick strategies for yourself and your pets.
1. Tuck In Your Pants
Tuck your pants into your socks before you wade through tall grasses. Not only will you prevent ticks from attaching to your ankles and calves, but you’ll also protect yourself from things like poison ivy.
2. Perform Regular Checks
Always check your clothes, hair and skin after you’ve been outside during tick weather. If you have any pets, run your hands along their fur. Don’t give ticks a chance to feed for hours and hours on end; this is how they release their toxins and make you sick.
3. Sweep Your Yard
Do a little research on the preferred habitats of ticks. Once you know where they like to live and breed, you can make sure that your yard doesn’t have any areas that might attract them.
4. Dry Your Clothes
If you notice any ticks on your clothes or body after an outdoor excursion, don’t panic. Just take everything off and stick it in the dryer. A high dose of heat will kill the ticks, including the ones that you might not have noticed with a simple visual sweep.
5. Get Professional Help
There are plenty of FDA- and EPA-approved chemicals for getting rid of ticks. You don’t have to be afraid of them just because they’re pesticides. Safe tick control can be achieved with the right products and prevention services.
6. Remove Them Carefully
You can’t always avoid ticks, and if one has managed to latch onto your arm or leg, you’ll want to remove it with the utmost care. Use tweezers. Grasp it as close to your skin as possible. Be swift.
These are just a few tips for getting through tick season without any major mishaps. Whether you’re hoping to protect yourself, your kids or your beloved pets, use these suggestions to keep ticks away from your family and property.