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Other Preventive Actions to Avoid Getting Bitten:
Using the right insect repellent and other preventive actions can discourage ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting insects from landing on you. Here are tips for other preventive actions you can take.
Ticks:
- Reduce time spent in potentially tick-infested habitats such as tall grass and shrubs.
- Reduce leaf litter and mow tall grass or brush that may serve as tick habitat.
- Walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with adjacent vegetation.
- Keep ticks away from exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and high boots.
- Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to cover gaps in your clothing where ticks can get in.
- Wear light-colored clothing to be able to see ticks more easily.
- Check the entire body for ticks; promptly remove attached ticks without squeezing them!
Additional Information on How to Avoid Tick Habitats, Bites and Infection:
Managing Ticks and Preventing Bites
– NPICTick Tactics – CDC
Tick Management Handbook - CDC
Lyme Primer Brochure
– Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA)Mosquitoes:
Remove mosquito habitats- Eliminate standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container where mosquitoes can breed.
- Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential mosquito habitats.
- Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt.
- Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
- Cover all gaps in walls, doors, and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
- Make sure window and door screens are in good working order.
- Completely cover baby carriers and beds with netting.
- Keep mosquitoes away from exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks.
- Tuck shirts into pants and pants into socks to cover gaps in your clothing where mosquitoes can get to your skin.
- Stay indoors at sunrise, sunset, and early in the evening when mosquitoes are most active.
Additional Information on How to Avoid Mosquito Habitats and Bites:
Methods of Mosquito Control – EPA
Fight the Bite! – CDC
Mosquito Control Methods
– NPIC