Tick season in the northeast here is upon us. Learn where they are, what to use as a repellent and how to keep you and your family safe this year.
When Outdoors:
Where are they?
Be aware when exploring the outdoors on Cape Cod and the Islands. Ticks like moist and humid environments and thrive in our beautiful environment. They are particularly likely to be in or near wooded or grassy areas. If you’re doing yardwork or other outdoor activities, they may be in leaf piles or shrubs. If you can, stay on the center of the trails when hiking.
Use a repellent:
You need to apply a repellent with DEET on the skin for effective prevention in areas where ticks are prevalent. Repellents containing 20% or more DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) can protect up to several hours. Always follow product instructions.
Keep your children safe!
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the maximum DEET level in repellent recommended for use on children is 30% – levels of 25% will protect for approximately 5 hours, while 10% will repel for about 2 hours. Parents should carefully apply this product to their children, avoiding the hands, eyes, and mouth. Never spray a child’s face – use your hands to help apply.
NEVER apply repellent to an children younger than 2 months.
After You Come Indoors
Check your clothing for ticks.
Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Placing clothes into a dryer on high heat for at least an hour effectively kills ticks.
Shower soon after being outdoors.
Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.
Check your body and your childrens’ bodies for ticks after being outdoors.
Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, which even includes your back yard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child’s body for ticks – they like to hide:
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- Inside belly button
- Back of the knees
- In and around the hair
- Between the legs
- Around the waist
Tick Disease:
While not all ticks carry disease, be aware that Tick-borne pathogens can be passed to humans by the bite of infected ticks. Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites, including but not limited to Lyme Disease. Nasty stuff.
Griggs & Browne is a professional pest control company with offices in:
Providence, RI // 1-800-924-8886, Waterford, CT // 1-800-962-3296
Abington, MA // 1-800-244-1012, Buzzards Bay, MA // 1-800-339-2212
As them about tick control to keep your home safe inside and out. www.griggsbrowne.com
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It’s good to know that ticks are more likely to be found in leaf piles and shrubs at your house. I plan on doing a lot of yard work this summer, and I don’t want to get a tick. I should see if there’s someone who would spray the bushes in my yard for ticks.