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THE OUTDOOR PLAYBOOK: A COLUMBUS RESIDENT'S GUIDE TO TICK SAFETY

Spring and Summer in Ohio are the perfect time to enjoy our incredible Columbus City Parks, Metroparks, and getting active outdoors and fire up the backyard grill. Staying safe from tickborne illnesses—such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Alpha-gal Syndrome—is simple when you integrate a few easy, proactive habits into your family's routine.

By following the four core pillars to prevent tickborne disease, you can confidently protect your household all season long.

1. PREVENT: Smart Trail Navigation

The most effective way to handle tickborne diseases is to prevent the initial bite. Ticks thrive in warm weather and are most active from early spring through late fall. However, it is important to know that ticks will be seeking a bloodmeal in temperatures hovering at 45 degrees F.

· Stay Centered: When hiking or walking, stick strictly to the middle of designated trails.

· Avoid High Traffic Areas for Ticks: Stay clear of wooded, brushy zones characterized by tall grass and heavy leaf litter.

· Plan Ahead: Take extra precautions during peak summer months when tick populations are at their highest.

2. REPEL: Gear Up and Cover Up

Creating a physical and chemical barrier is your next line of defense before stepping outside into grassy or wooded environments.

· Use EPA-Registered Repellents: Apply a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellent (with DEET) labeled for use against ticks to all exposed skin. For children, adults should apply the product manually, ensuring it avoids the child's hands, eyes, and mouth.

· Treat Your Gear: Spray clothing, boots, and camping gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. This treatment remains effective through several wash cycles. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-treated clothing for long-lasting protection.

· Dress Wisely: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and long socks. Tuck your pant legs directly into your socks and your shirt into your waistband to keep ticks on the outside of your clothing.

· Choose Light Colors: Wearing white or light-colored fabrics makes it much easier to spot a tiny dark tick crawling on your clothes before it reaches your skin.

3. CHECK: The Post-Hike Routine

Do not let ticks hitchhike into your home on your clothes, gear, or family pets where they can detach and attach to someone else later.

The 10-Minute Dryer Trick: As soon as you come indoors, toss your dry clothing directly into the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes. The intense, dry heat effectively eliminates any hidden ticks. If clothes are damp or dirty, wash them in hot water first before drying.

Examine Gear and Pets: Carefully inspect day packs, coats, and your pets' fur before relaxing inside.

Shower Promptly: Bathe or shower within two hours of coming indoors. This helps wash away loose, crawling ticks and provides the perfect opportunity for a visual check.

Conduct a Full-Body Inspection: Use a full-length or handheld mirror to check your entire body. Parents should systematically check children, paying close attention to these key hiding spots:

· Under the arms and around the waist

· In and around the ears

· Inside the belly button

· Behind the knees and between the legs

· Thoroughly through the hair and scalp

4. REMOVE: Safe and Proper Technique

If you discover an attached tick, do not panic. Removing it immediately with the proper tools significantly reduces your risk of infection.

Step-by-Step Removal Protocol

1. Grasp: Use fine-tipped tweezers to pinch the tick as close to the surface of your skin as possible (targeting its head and mouthparts).

2. Pull: Pull straight upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist, yank, or jerk the tick, as this can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain embedded. If parts break off, try to remove them gently; if they are stuck, leave them alone and let the skin heal.

3. Clean: Clean the bite site and your hands thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or soap and warm water.

4. Dispose or Identify: Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet. If you wish to preserve it for your healthcare provider to identify, place it in a sealed container or plastic bag with rubbing alcohol.

Note on Folk Remedies: Never use matches, heat, petroleum jelly, or essential oils to force a tick to detach. These methods agitate the tick, causing it to regurgitate infected fluids into your system.

Knowing When to See a Doctor

While the CDC generally does not recommend a preventative course of antibiotics for every tick bite, a single dose of doxycycline may be prescribed in specific high-risk circumstances to lower the risk of Lyme disease.

Many tickborne illnesses share similar early warning signs. Monitor your health closely for 2 to 4 weeks post-bite, and seek immediate medical evaluation if you experience:

· Fever or Chills: Varying degrees of fever can occur at different onset times.

· Aches and Pains: Unexplained headaches, severe fatigue, muscle aches, or joint pain (common with Lyme disease).

· Distinctive Rashes: Rashes linked to Lyme disease (bull's-eye), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, STARI, ehrlichiosis, or tularemia.

Early recognition and antibiotic treatment drastically lower the risk of severe complications or hospitalization.

Brought to you by Columbus Public Health.

For more local resources, regional updates, or health guidelines, visit www.columbus.gov/publichealth.