We all get a little creeped out about bed bugs, right? And with good reason. They are nasty little critters. But this past week, I had another kind of unwanted guests in my bed – TICKS. Ticks love the wet humid weather we’ve been having. As a gardener and dog owner, I know I put myself at risk for more tick exposure but never expected the creepy critters to end up in my bed. So lying in bed watching TV, I had an itch on my neck. The itch was actually a tick… crawling slowly up my neck. Gross!
The next night I found another one on the dust ruffle headed to the mattress. No sweet dreams that night either. I woke up twice just to put the lights on and check my sheets! Major tick-a-phobia had set in. Considering I just pulled one off my pooch this morning, I assume she is a mode of transportation for them. Time to go over her with a fine toothed comb! So to help you avoid the creepy crawlies in your bed, here are a few tips to keep them buggers out!
- When playing or working outdoors, even if not in deep woods, check yourself for ticks before day is done. They will hide in hair, clothes and shoes
- Wear light colored clothing as often as possible
- Wear hat as much as possible
- USE of DEET is effective on shoes and clothes
- Treat dogs with anti-tick medication to protect them and limit tick transmittal to humans
- Be mindful of onset of any fever, rash or malaise – signs of Lyme Disease
- Toss clothes in dryer for 1 hour on medium -high heat to kill ticks
- Shower within two hours of being outdoors for prolonged time
- If you do find a tick in the home, collect it and either burn it, crush it or flush it
- If you find an attached tick, carefully remove with tweezers and destroy
SO please don’t abandon your work and play in the great outdoors. Just be careful and keep an eye open for the little buggers. Remember the Lyme Disease culprit is as small as the head of a pin! Check this link to the CDC for more information on prevention.
