How to Keep Your Family Safe From Ticks 

In the United States alone, 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed every single year. Worse yet, if left untreated, Lyme disease can cause a host of health problems, from fatigue to muscle pain to more serious neurological issues that can take decades to recover from—if you ever do. And while you might not have to keep your eyes peeled for ticks if you live in a Manhattan luxury condo, those who live in more rural or suburban settings know just how vigilant they have to be to make sure that ticks don’t come for them. So, how do you keep yourself and your family safe when deer, tall grass, and wooded areas abound where you live? Follow these simple tips and put your fears to rest:
 

Have your yard sprayed

One of the best ways to prevent ticks from becoming a problem for your family is to prevent them from coming on your property in the first place. While many landscaping companies will spray for ticks using traditional pesticides, look for a service that will treat your yard with organic, kid- and pet-safe options, like essential oil treatments that also safely keep ticks at bay.
 

Part your hair and look behind your ears

Once you get home from a potentially tick-infested area, one of the first things you should do is part your hair to check for ticks on your scalp. Ticks like hiding on parts of the body where it’s warm and dark, meaning that they’ll often be found under your hair or behind your ears.

Check between your toes

As soon as you take your socks off at home, make sure to part your toes to ensure that no ticks have attached themselves there. Check on the bottom of your feet, too—while you might imagine that ticks would have a hard time getting under there while you’re walking, their small size means that they can frequently appear in spots you never thought possible.
 

If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers and keep it in a plastic bag

If you do happen to spot a tick on your body, don’t despair. Not only are the majority of ticks not infected with Lyme, just because you have a tick on you doesn’t mean you’ll get sick.  Try to remove the ticks with a pair of tweezers (or a special tick-removing device that can be found in most camping stores) and save it in a plastic bag. When you go to the doctor to get checked out, bring the tick with you for identification purposes.

Make DIY Natural Tick Repellents

Want to keep ticks away from you and your family without the use of chemicals?  This natural essential oil blend has been shown to keep ticks off your body, and works well when used in conjunction with other barrier methods, like wearing long sleeves and pants and making sure your pants are tucked into your socks when you spend time in long grass or go hiking.
Essential Oil Tick Repellent Ingredients:
9 drops Citronella essential oil
6 drops Peppermint essential oils
6 drops Tea Tree essential oil
1 tablespoon almond oil or jojoba oil
Simply mix and apply to exposed skin before heading outdoors.
You can also use this Apple Cider Vinegar Tick Blend to remove and kill ticks.
Combine the following ingredients in a spray bottle:
2 tablespoons of Neem Oil
4 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar
2 cups of water
Spray this mixture on clothing, exposed skin and even outdoor furniture.

It is helpful to remember that ticks dislike the scent of lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, and rose geranium.  You can make DIY repellants by adding any of these essential oils to almond oil, then rub the blend on exposed skin.
While ticks may be a part of life for anyone living in a rural or suburban area, you don’t have to let them make you miserable. By following just a few easy protocols for tick identification and prevention, you can keep yourself and your whole family safe all summer long.
Guest post by Candice Schaffer
 
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