Ticks & Lyme Disease
Ticks live in wooded, brushy and grassy areas, and they carry diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Surveyors, loggers, utility workers, landscapers and many others are at risk. Prevention is simple and effective.
- Outdoor Workers
- Forestry
- Utility Crews
Where ticks live
- Wooded areas, tall grass, brush, leaf litter and the edges between lawn and woods.
- They climb onto people and animals that brush by. They don't jump or fly.
- Tick activity peaks in spring and summer, but some ticks are active whenever it is above freezing.
Prevent bites
- Wear long pants tucked into socks, long sleeves and boots. Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to see.
- Use an EPA-registered repellent (such as DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus) on skin as the label directs.
- Treat clothing and boots with permethrin (never on skin), or buy pre-treated clothing. It remains effective through several washes.
- Walk in the center of trails; avoid brush when possible.
- Shower soon after work and do a full-body tick check: hairline, behind ears, armpits, waistband, groin and behind knees. Put work clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks.
- Check gear and pets.
Remove a tick
- Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or crush it.
- Clean the bite and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Dispose of the tick in alcohol or seal it in a bag; do not crush it with your fingers. Note the date.
Don't use petroleum jelly, nail polish or a hot match.
Symptoms and care
- Watch for symptoms for up to 30 days: a rash (sometimes a bullseye shape) at or near the bite, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches
- Early treatment with antibiotics usually works well; see a doctor, tell them about the bite and your work
- Some areas have other tick diseases or different rashes
- Report work-related illness to your employer; it may be a workers' compensation matter
Standards & references
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