Summer in Charlottesville is the perfect time to get out and enjoy our beautiful local hikes, parks, and more. But while you’re exploring the outdoors, make sure you’re also taking steps to protect your family from ticks and the serious illnesses they transmit.
Emergency medicine physician Stephanie Lareau is the wilderness medicine fellowship director for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. She shared her tips to prevent and treat tick bites so your family can have a fun, adventurous, and safe summer.
At a Glance: Preventing Tick Bites
- Ticks in Virginia can carry illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Before heading outside, apply bug repellent with EPA-approved active ingredients, treat clothing and camping gear, and wear long sleeves and pants.
- Shower after coming inside and check everyone in the family for ticks, especially around the hair, underarms, and groin. Check pets as well.
- To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers, grasp it near the skin, and pull firmly and steadily until it comes out.
- If you notice signs of illness in the days after a tick bite, contact a doctor immediately.
How Charlottesville Families Can Prevent Tick Bites
In Virginia, common ticks like the blacklegged or deer tick, the lone star tick, and the American dog tick carry diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They can pose other dangers as well.
“I’m seeing the impacts of tick-borne diseases,” says Lareau. She urges families to take preventative measures to prevent tick bites before they happen.
Before you head outdoors, you should:
- Apply a bug repellent containing 10-30% DEET, 20% picaridin, or another EPA-approved active ingredients to exposed skin.
- If you’re camping, treat clothing and gear like tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
- Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot.
- Wear long sleeves to protect your arms, and tuck your pants or leggings into your socks.
While you’re outside, avoid wooded, brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. These are spots where ticks thrive. If you’re hiking, walk in the center of the trail so you don’t brush up against vegetation and give ticks the chance to hop on board.
At home, keep your grass mowed, and remove leaf litter and brush. This will create fewer spots for ticks to live near your house. If you have a dog or cat, ask your vet about tick control products for pets.
Prevent Tick Bites After Outdoor Activities
Taking preventative measures before you head outside will reduce your risk of tick bites. However, there’s still a chance that one will hitch a ride, especially if you have kids who love to explore. That’s why tick bite prevention also happens after you get home.
As soon as you get home, Lareau suggests taking a shower to wash off the bug repellent and check for ticks. “Inspect children carefully, especially in their hair, underarms, and groin,” she says. These are spots where tickets love to hide. You should also inspect any gear or pets that came with you to prevent ticks from getting inside the house.
Lareau recommends that you tumble dry any clothes you wore on high heat for at least 10 minutes before you wash them. This will kill any ticks that might be hiding. If you wash your clothes before drying them, use hot water.
How to Remove A Tick Safely
Sometimes, even if you take every precaution, you can still end up with a tick on your or your child. Don’t panic, but don’t leave it there either.
“Remove ticks as soon as possible,” says Lareau. “Removing a tick within 36 hours can reduce the risk of Lyme disease transmission.”
To remove the tick, use fine-tipped tweezers or devices such as Tick Keys, which you can buy at drugstores or online. Grip the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible, then pull upward with steady, even pressure.
“Twisting or jerking could cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin,” warns Lareau. “Though they will eventually work their way out, it’s best to remove all the pieces.”
After the tick is removed, wash the bite area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, soap and water, or an iodine scrub.
Know the Signs of Tick-Borne Illnesses
Once you remove the tick, watch for signs or symptoms of a tick-borne illness for next few days. Common symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Rash
The main symptom of Lyme disease is a bullseye rash radiating outward from the tick bite. It can take a few days to appear and may grow up to 12 inches across.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever also includes a distinctive rash. This one generally begins 2-5 days after a fever starts and shows up as small, pink spots spreading from the wrists, forearms, and ankles toward the torso.
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or your child’s pediatrician immediately. “Early diagnosis is critical,” says Lareau.
Tick Bite Prevention for Charlottesville Families
Ticks and other outdoor critters are part of living in Virginia, but that doesn’t mean you need to stay indoors. You can take steps to protect your family from bites and still enjoy the many outdoor adventures that Charlottesville has to offer.
Learn about staying safe around snakes and essential oils that repel ticks so you can enjoy Charlottesville’s many lakes, parks, and hikes for families.
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KATHARINE PALJUG is a freelance writer and novelist who lives in Charlottesville with two busy kids. She is a big fan of public libraries, homemade muffins, and inclusive spaces for queer families.