Tick Season Safety from the City of Union

By Garrett Christensen on Friday, May 5th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

UNION – (Information from the City of Union Newsletter) Springtime may be a perfect time to get outdoors, but it brings its own set of hazards. Stinging, biting and otherwise pesky and dangerous insects are starting to spring up, including ticks. The city of Union has provided some tips to help find and avoid the nasty little bugs:

“Before You Go Outdoors:

Know where to expect ticks: Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Spending time outside walking your dog, camping, gardening, or hunting could bring you in close contact with ticks.
Treat clothing and gear by Using: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA’s helpful search toolexternal icon can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
Avoid Contact with Ticks: Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in the center of trails.

After You Come Indoors:

Check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.
Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and daypacks.
Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child’s body for ticks:
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears and in and around the hair
- Inside belly button and around the chest
- Back of the knees and between the legs”