Stay Safe Outdoors: Simple Tick Prevention & Safety Tips

As the weather warms up and we spend more time in nature, it's important to be mindful of one tiny — but potentially dangerous — pest: the tick. While small, ticks can carry illnesses like Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. The good news? With just a few simple precautions, you can enjoy the outdoors while keeping yourself and your loved ones protected.

Why Tick Safety Matters

Ticks are found in grassy, wooded, and brushy areas — basically, the beautiful places we love to explore. Whether you're hiking, gardening, camping, or just out for a walk, taking a few safety steps can drastically lower your risk of a tick bite.

Easy Tick Prevention Tips

1. Dress for protection

Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes when in wooded or grassy areas. Tucking your pants into your socks may not win a fashion award, but it creates a barrier that makes it harder for ticks to reach your skin.

2. Use tick repellent

Apply a tick repellent with 20–30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing. For a more natural option, oil of lemon eucalyptus or permethrin-treated clothing can also be effective.

3. Stick to the center of trails

Avoid brushing against tall grass or overgrown shrubs. Ticks often cling to vegetation and wait to hitch a ride on passersby.

4. Do a full-body tick check

After spending time outdoors, especially in tick-prone areas, do a thorough check — including behind ears, underarms, groin, behind knees, and along the hairline. A hand mirror can help check hard-to-see spots.

5. Shower soon after being outside

Showering within two hours of outdoor activity helps remove ticks before they bite and gives you another chance to check for them.

6. Protect your pets

Dogs and cats can bring ticks inside, even if they don’t get bitten. Use vet-recommended tick preventatives and check them regularly, especially after outdoor adventures.

7. Keep your yard tick-safe

Mow the lawn regularly, remove brush and leaf litter, and create a barrier (like wood chips or gravel) between lawn and wooded areas.

How to Remove a Tick (The Right Way)

If you do find a tick attached:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible.

• Pull straight out with steady, even pressure — no twisting or jerking.

• Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

• Monitor for symptoms like rash, fever, or fatigue over the next few weeks and contact a healthcare provider if anything unusual occurs.

See this fantastic resource to learn more! https://etick.ca/

Final Thoughts

Ticks are part of nature, but they don’t have to ruin your time outside. With a few smart steps, you can stay safe and confident on the trails, in your garden, or anywhere else you explore. Prevention is simple, and it makes all the difference.