Ticks are active throughout the summer in Maryland—and they don’t just lurk deep in the woods.
Grassy areas, leaf piles and even your own backyard can be tick territory. Taking a few simple precautions can significantly lower your risk of tick bites and the illnesses they can carry, including Lyme disease.
Before, during and after time outdoors, keep these tips in mind:
- Wear light-colored clothing, so ticks are easier to spot. Tuck your pants into your socks when walking in wooded or grassy areas.
- Use EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535 on exposed skin. Apply permethrin to clothing and gear.
- Stay on trails and avoid walking through tall grass or brush when possible.
- Do a full-body tick check after spending time outside, including behind the ears, along the hairline, under the arms and behind the knees.
- Shower within two hours of coming indoors to help wash off unattached ticks.
- Check your pets before they come inside, as dogs and cats can carry ticks in their fur.
- Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks that may have hitched a ride.
If you find a tick, remove it promptly using fine-tipped tweezers. Grab it close to the skin and pull upward with steady pressure. After removal, clean the area with rubbing alcohol. Keep the extracted tick in a sealed plastic bag or a container with a damp tissue, and write down the date. If you develop symptoms, the tick can be tested. Watch for symptoms of tick-borne illness in the weeks that follow, including rash, fever, chills, fatigue or joint pain. If you develop any of these, contact your primary care provider right away.
Holy Cross Health primary care offers same-day appointments so you can get the care you need quickly.