Heading outdoors for an Australian or overseas holiday or to play sport, go camping, caravaning, trekking, bush walking, or even just to garden in the sun is a time to also Think Ticks. We want this to be enjoyable and for you to come back healthy so take the time to read over this helpful advice before you venture out. The information outlines some tips to take note of before, during and after you return from the outdoors.

BEFORE HEADING OUT

1. Think Ticks
Know where to expect ticks, so you are aware of high-risk habitat areas and tick hot spot areas in Australia. Know what countries overseas may have a high incidence of ticks.

Check any overseas travel warnings or obtain the country or local area maps, information and warnings for possible ticks in those locations where you travel. Read the section about ticks that explains what habitats ticks like to live.

If traveling in Australia, see this page on the Australian tick hot spot area map.

Know also about their potential diseases.

2. Gather
Purchase the right tick removal tools of fine-point tweezers and Ice/freeze spray as well as other essential items for your first aid kit. Click here for an example of a tick kit.

The free Tick Tracker Australia app has guidance on tick removal as well as an option to upload a picture of the embedded tick. By uploading a photo if anyone is bitten, you will become a citizen scientist and help gather data. This will help Australian researchers track and map where ticks and people are getting bitten in Australia.

Download the free Tick Tracker Australia tick app.

If travelling to the USA there is a Tick Tracker App for that country.

See if the country you are traveling to has its own tick tracking app which will offer additional local assistance once there.

3. Choose
Pick the right clothing and shoes to best keep ticks from attaching easily straight to skin. Wear light coloured long sleeve shirts, jackets and pants depending on the weather. The lighter the clothing colour the better, as it makes it easier to see the darker coloured ticks. In summer with more skin exposed definitely wear tick repellents and/or have repellent treated clothing.

Ticks peak in the spring and summer but since ticks can be out and about ready to feed all year round vigilance is required constantly.

Tuck your pants into the top of your socks. This prevents ticks from crawling under your pants. You may look dorky, but better than being bitten.

Tuck your shirt into your pants. This prevents ticks from crawling up your pants and under your skin below your shirt.

It is best to try and treat your clothing and the gear you travel with such as backpacks with 0.5% permethrin and allowing this to dry before wearing.

Warning. Keep these chemicals away from any pets especially cats. Do not spray permethrin spray on to your skin.

Instructions for application for doing this is available here. And here

You may be able to purchase some pre-treated special outdoor clothing in the area or country you are traveling if you plan to do some serious outdoor activities like camping, trekking or nature walking which will offer extra tick and other bug protection.

There are other clothing and apparel stores like this elsewhere

This is from the USA here and here

This is in the UK here

Some research about tick repellent clothing here

Wear a hat and if you have long hair tuck your hair in. Ticks don’t jump but can crawl up and attach to hair and hide in your scalp. A good Aussie wide brim hat also helps and protects from the sun.

Wear enclosed shoes because ticks will find the closest spot to hide and that could be between your toes.

4. Spray
Repellents: (Always follow manufacturer’s directions)

Here are some EPA instructions on finding the right repellent here

Use repellents on everyone heading outdoors with the best-suggested tick sprays. Just the same as you slop on sunscreen or spray for mosquitos, do the same with tick repellants to keep ticks away. Repellents help the ticks fall off without attaching or biting.

Deet, (N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide), with at least 20% concentration is the best and 40% is better. IF you are not intolerant of these chemical sprays. This is one good Australian brand but there are others. Click here for Bushmans Australian brand.

If you would like to use natural sprays, you can make a nice mix yourself. There are many blogs and articles on the internet to find where you can make your own natural repellents and with slightly different recipes of essential oils. Check some ideas here or here or here

To purchase some natural repellents. These are Australian brands here and here

The CDC has just announced a new natural tick repellent called Nootkatone made from grapefruit. So there should soon be companies making a repellent with this ingredient. More information here.