With warmer weather comes “tick season” and the annual observance of National Lyme Disease Awareness Month throughout the month of May. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging the public to learn how to protect themselves from ticks and Lyme disease. IDPH has created Pocket Cards, a Tick Defense Knowledge Check crossword puzzle and other materials for school aged children that make it fun for everyone in the family to learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from tickborne illnesses. IDPH has created an interactive Tick Surveillance Map that documents the counties in Illinois where the different tick species have been confirmed as well as the diseases they may carry. Following are additional tips for how to avoid tickborne illnesses and have a healthy time in the outdoors:
• Walk in the center of trails. Avoid wooded, bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Our Camper Checklist provides more details on how to protect yourself.
• Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to find. Tuck long pants into socks and boots.
• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing 20% DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus according to label directions. The EPA has a search tool that can help you find the product that best suits your needs.
• Conduct full-body tick checks on family members (underarms, ears, belly button, behind knees, between legs, waist, hair and scalp) every two to three hours. Also check any gear or pets taken on outings.
• To kill ticks after being outdoors, put clothes in the dryer on high for 10 minutes (or one hour for damp clothes).
• Bathe or shower within two hours after coming indoors.
• If you find a blacklegged tick on you that may have been attached for more than three days, then seek medical attention to decide if you need an antibiotic to prevent Lyme disease.
• It is often helpful to keep the tick for species identification. Place the tick in rubbing alcohol or in a sealed bag/container to bring to your healthcare provider or local health department for submission to IDPH.
