Reduce Your Exposure to Tick Bites

tick insect warning sign in forest

May 2, 2022

Tick season is here, and although bites from these tiny hitchhikers can occur year-round, FirstEnergy field workers should be extra vigilant during the spring and summer months when the insects are more active.

Small but Mighty

Ticks live in grassy, brushy and wooded areas, and even on animals. If an infected tick bites you, it only takes about 24 to 48 hours to transmit the illness (if the tick remains attached). The sooner you remove a tick the less likely the tick can transmit a disease.

Ticks cling onto leaves or grasses with their back legs and reach out with their front legs. When a human or animal walks by, they can attach themselves quickly and virtually undetected. They do not fly, jump or fall from trees, and contrary to popular belief, ticks are not killed by freezing temperatures as they can burrow underground or shelter under dead leaves.

Some ticks can transmit serious and potentially fatal diseases. In our service area, they include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and babesiosis. These diseases can be transmitted only by the bite of an infected tick.

If you are bitten by a tick, closely monitor the bite site. If you notice anything unusual (e.g., rash, redness) or develop any other symptoms, see medical attention.

Tick Check

To reduce exposure, employees are urged to conduct a tick check – and take a shower – as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours). Use a mirror to view all parts of your body when checking for ticks. Other prevention tips include:

  • Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Stay toward the center of the path when walking on trails and in forested areas.
  • Tuck pant legs into work boots and tape the area where your pants and socks meet.
  • Wear long-sleeve shirts and light colors – it can help you spot ticks on your clothes.
  • Use repellents that contain 20% to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on exposed skin for protection that lasts up to several hours. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions, avoiding contact with your hands, eyes and mouth.
  • Apply products that contain permethrin (0.5%) on clothing and gear – such as socks, boots and pants – following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Carefully examine your outdoor gear – ticks can ride indoors on gear and clothing and then attach to a person later.
  • Tumble dry clothes for at least 10 minutes on high heat to kill ticks after you come indoors. If the clothing is wet, dry for 60 to 90 minutes.

Remember that ticks can be active anytime the weather is above 30 degrees Fahrenheit. More information about ticks, the diseases they carry, and bite prevention is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website*.

*By clicking this link, you are entering a website maintained by an outside party, which is entirely responsible for the site’s content.