Ticks, Control
The following methods of prevention are recommended by the Virginia Department of Health.
 | Avoid tick
infested areas such as tall grass and dense vegetation
| Walk in the
center of trails and avoid brushing against weeds and tall grass
| Keep grass and
underbrush cut and thinned
| Wear light
colored clothing so ticks can be found easily
| Tuck pant legs
into socks so ticks stay on the outside of pants.
| Conduct tick
checks on children and pets every 4 hours
| Keep pets
outside from April to September to help keep ticks out of the house
| Use tick
repellents that contain at least 30% DEET
| Ask your
veterinarian to recommend tick controls for your pets
| Treat your
lawn with an approved pesticide for tick control
| Treat clothes
with permanone (be sure to follow all label precautions) | |
Ticks are best removed with tweezers or by wrapping the tick in tissue paper and
Ticks are best removed with tweezers or by wrapping the tick in tissue paper and pulling out with fingers. Do not twist or jerk, and pull slowly to avoid leaving the mouthparts in the wound. Do not use nail polish, petroleum jelly, alcohol, or hot matches to remove the tick. Wash the wound with an antiseptic after the tick is removed. Kill the tick in rubbing alcohol and keep it in a small vial for a few months in case any disease symptoms develop.
Reference(s):
Virginia Department of Health |
