TICKS OF THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

Tick exposure can occur year-round. Before you go outdoors, it is important that you:

Know Where to Expect Ticks:

• Ticks can be found in areas with grass, shrubs, logs, large rocks, or fallen leaves.

Use Repellents:

• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-unecanone.
• Follow directions and reapply as needed.
• Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.

Wear Protective Clothing: 

• Wear long sleeves and pants when possible.
• Treat clothes and shoes with permethrin that kills ticks. This remains protective through several washings.
• Pre-treated clothing is available and may be protective longer.

When you’re spending time outdoors…

Take Precautions: 

• Avoid logs and areas with high grass or fallen leaves.
• Walk in the center of trails.

After you come indoors, make sure you:

• Check your clothing for ticks and tumble unwashed clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill remaining ticks
• Examine gear and pets.
• Shower within two hours or as soon as possible, to wash off ticks.
• Do a full body check. Ticks are usually found in the areas indicated in the graphic.

It is recommended that you do a second tick check 1-2 hours after coming indoors.

If you find a tick crawling on you, brush it off.
If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it quickly.

• 

  Use a fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.

• Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
• After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

Ways to Dispose of a Live Tick:

• Submerse it in alcohol
• Place it in a sealed bag/container
• Wrap it tightly in tape
• Flush it down the toilet

Never crush a tick with your fingers! For more information, visit CDC.