# ER Visits for Tick Bites Highest in Over a Decade
Emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest level in more than ten years, signaling a growing public health concern as tick populations expand and tick-borne illnesses become more common. Parents planning outdoor activities with their families need practical strategies to reduce exposure and respond safely if bites occur.
Ticks transmit serious diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Powassan virus. The tick population surge correlates with warming temperatures and habitat changes that allow ticks to thrive in new regions. Children spending time hiking, camping, or playing in wooded areas and tall grass face particular risk.
**Prevention starts with clothing and repellent choices.** The CDC recommends wearing light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants when entering tick habitat. Permethrin-treated clothing creates a protective barrier that kills ticks on contact. Products like Sawyer Permethrin and Repel create durable protection that survives multiple washes. Insect repellents containing DEET (20 to 30 percent concentration) applied to exposed skin provide additional defense.
**After outdoor time, conduct thorough tick checks.** Parents should examine their children's entire body, paying special attention to warm areas like the scalp, armpits, groin, and behind the ears where ticks prefer to attach. Showering within two hours of coming indoors helps wash away unattached ticks.
**If you find an attached tick, remove it correctly.** Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight upward with steady pressure. Avoid twisting or crushing the tick, which can transmit pathogens. Place the tick in a sealed bag or container for identification if symptoms develop later.