Here’s How To Protect Yourself Against Ticks This Summer

Last week I told you it's shaping up to be a really bad tick season, especially along a small stretch of the York County coast, where the Powassan virus is being spread by deer ticks.

So what's the best way to avoid ticks? Experts at the University of Rhode Island Tick Encounter Resource Center say a daily tick check is the easiest way to protect yourself.
Removing a tick before it has a chance to infect you is crucial. Be sure to check areas of your body like the back of your knee, your armpits, around the waistband of your pants, other constricted places, and of course your hair.

They also say that what you wear while outside can help reduce your chances of being bitten by a tick. It all starts with your shoes, socks, and pants. Ticks are climbers. They start at the bottom and work their way up. They don't jump, fly, or fall out of trees. It may not look very fashionable, but tucking your pants inside your socks will help keep the ticks off your legs.

Lots of people will tell you to use DEET, but researchers say repellants containing just DEET aren't enough. DEET only repels ticks to areas where they can still bite you, and the protection it offers is pretty minimal. However, Permethrin kills ticks on contact. Used along with DEET, the two provide the best protection against ticks. You can buy

You can Permethrin treated clothes, but they're pretty expensive. Or you can buy a kit and treat your own clothes. This video shows you how to do it step-by-step.

If you decide to use a spray, this video shows you the best way to apply it.

And finally, this video shows you how well Permethrin treated clothes work.