Nature is Beautiful. Ticks are Not.

If you know me at all, you know I LOVE being outside.

Give me a hiking trail, a campground, a misty morning walk, a rooftop sunset, a boat ride, a campfire… I’m happy. Maryland summers are my favorite kind of chaos.

But unfortunately? Tick season loves the outdoors too.

And listen… ticks are tiny. REALLY tiny. Which means a quick tick check after being outside can make a huge difference.

As someone who spends a lot of time hiking and outdoors, I’m pretty serious about prevention because ticks can carry illnesses like Lyme disease and other infections. The earlier you find and remove them, the better.

A Few Things I Do

• I use bug spray when hiking or camping

• I treat my hiking shoes and outdoor clothing with

  permethrin spray (follow directions carefully)

• I try to stay on cleared trails

• I wear lighter clothing when possible so ticks are

  easier to spot

• And yes… I absolutely do tick checks afterward

  
  

Permethrin-treated clothing can honestly be a game changer if you spend a lot of time outside. Just remember: permethrin is for clothing and gear — not directly on your skin.

When a tick crawls onto permethrin-treated clothing or gear, the chemical affects the tick’s nerve signals, causing paralysis and death. Unlike bug sprays that mainly repel insects, permethrin actually kills ticks on contact.

Where Ticks Like To Hide

After spending time outdoors, check:

• Behind the knees

• Around the waistband

• Under arms

• Around ears

• Along the hairline and scalp

• Between toes

• On kids and pets too

How To Remove a Tick

Please don’t burn it.

Don’t cover it in Vaseline.

Don’t panic.

Instead:

✔ Use fine-tip tweezers

✔ Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible

✔ Pull upward slowly and steadily

✔ Clean the area with soap and water or alcohol

Then keep an eye on the area over the next several days.

Call Your Doctor If You Notice:

• A bullseye rash

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Joint pain

• Flu-like symptoms

• Increasing redness or swelling

I’m still going hiking. I’m still sitting around campfires. I’m still choosing outside every chance I get.

Nature is beautiful.Ticks are not.

Prepared people panic less.