Lyme Kingston
Serving Kingston and Surrounding areas
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
Tuck your pants into your socks, Wearing white or light coloured socks and clothing make spotting the dark poppy seed nymph stage ticks, as well as the larger adults. Spraying with a bug repellant adds extra protection from the tick latching onto your clothing to go for a ride til later.
Stay on the pathway, it may not be as much of an adventure, however Lyme disease can be a scary journey for many. Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
Preventing Tick Bites on People
Repel ticks with DEET or permethrin
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Use repellents that contain 20 to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on exposed skin and clothing for protection that lasts up to several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth.
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Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may provide longer-lasting protection.
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Other repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may be found at more
Using bug repellent products on your pets is important. There are multiple products that one can consider when wanting to help make your pet a safer companion for you and your family. Collar, bandanas and pet clothing treated with permethrin are great options; there are a host of medications available from your veterinarian as well as natural sprays you can make up at home. Anytime a pet has been out exploring tick habitat (running through grass/brush/forest) make sure you give you pet a thorough tick check.
This goes for you and your children as well. The CDC recommends 30% or higher level DEET be applied to skin. These products are not without dispute, many suggest that the chemicals used have harmful effects on the wearer. Other options suggested are picardin and permethrin. These products are used to treat clothing and fabric not skin. Studies have shown that permethrin is poisonous to cats and fish in its liquid form and caution is strongly suggested when treating clothing at home. There are companies who sell pre-manufactured clothing treated with permethrin as well as having the option of sending your own clothing in to be treated by them. There are multiple natural essential oils that have been shown to have a repellent effect on ticks as well. Please do your research and find a product that you feel comfortable with.
Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors.
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If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed.
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If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks effectively. If the clothes cannot be washed in hot water, tumble dry on low heat for 90 minutes or high heat for 60 minutes. The clothes should be warm and completely dry.
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Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within 2 hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you.
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Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and day packs.
Tick Checks for You and Your Pet
Ticks prefer moist dark areas where their meal will not be disturbed. So if you imagine those areas are the goal and your extremities (Feet,legs, hands and arms) are their starting point. They will bite when they cannot get any further. The same goes for your pets as well, collars and around ears and tail are prime real estate for ticks.
