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Family Health & Safety

Tick Safety

By June 9, 2026No Comments

If your job involves working outdoors, you may be at risk of tick bites. The diseases that are spread by ticks can make people very sick, so it is important to take steps to prevent tick bites and respond appropriately if a tick attaches itself to you.

The Symptoms of Tick-borne Disease

The symptoms of a tick-borne disease may include:

  • Body/muscle aches

  • Fever

  • Headache

  • Fatigue

  • Joint pain

  • Rashes, including rashes with a “bullseye” pattern

  • Stiff neck

  • Facial paralysis

Tick Safety Tips

  • Know where to expect ticks. Ticks tend to live in grassy, brushy or wooded areas.

  • Wear a hat and light-colored clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into boots or socks. Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot.

  • Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535 on exposed skin. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for application.

  • Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin kills ticks on contact. It should not be used on skin.

  • Check yourself for ticks regularly while you are working. If you find a tick crawling on your clothes or skin, brush it off.

  • Do a final full-body tick check at the end of the day and remove ticks promptly.

  • Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off and help find ticks that may be on you.

  • Wash and dry work clothes in a hot dryer to kill any ticks present.

How to Remove a Tick

If a tick is attached to your skin, remove the tick as soon as possible.

  • Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible using clean, fine-tipped tweezers.

  • Pull the tick away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick.

  • Thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.

Do not use petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish or other substances to try and make the tick detach from the skin. This may agitate the tick and force infected fluid from the tick into the skin.

Seeking Medical Attention

If you develop any symptoms of a tick-borne disease within 30 days of a tick bite or after working outside, tell your supervisor and seek medical care right away. Most tick-borne diseases can be treated, especially if treatment starts early.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. For further information, please consult a medical professional. © 2026 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.