How to Protect Yourself from Tick Bites:
Clothing
Wear long pants, tucking cuffs into socks so that ticks cannot get on skin. Also wearing light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot the dark ticks. Smooth fabrics such as windbreaker material make it more difficult for ticks to cling. Long sleeves and hats also provide additional protection.
Ticks are very intolerant of being dried out. After being outdoors in an infested area, immediately place clothing in the dryer for 20 minutes to kill any ticks that may be present.
Check for ticks on clothing frequently and do a thorough, full body check when returning home. Remember – ticks like shady, damp places like behind the knees, ears, in the scalp, etc.
How to Remove an Attached Tick
Using a tweezers (not fingers!), grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out. Then apply an antiseptic to the bite area. Do not irritate the tick prior to removal with heat or chemicals, or grasp them by the body, as this may cause the tick to inject more germs into tire skin. Tape the tick to a card and record the date and location of the bite. Remember, the sooner the tick is removed, the less likely an infection will result.
Lyme Disease Information