# ER Visits for Tick Bites Highest in Over a Decade
Emergency room visits for tick bites have reached their highest levels in more than ten years, according to recent data. The surge reflects growing concern about tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, which ticks transmit to humans through bites.
Ticks thrive in warm months and attach to skin during outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and yard work. Once attached, they can feed for days while transmitting bacteria or viruses into the bloodstream. Parents planning outdoor adventures need practical strategies to reduce tick exposure and catch bites early.
Prevention starts with clothing choices. Wear long pants tucked into socks and long sleeves when entering wooded or grassy areas. Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot. The CDC recommends using insect repellents containing 20% DEET on exposed skin and permethrin on clothing and gear. Apply permethrin before heading outdoors, not on skin directly.
After outdoor time, check your entire body for ticks within two hours. Pay special attention to warm areas like armpits, groin, and behind ears where ticks prefer to hide. Examine children thoroughly and check pets as well. Shower and wash clothes in hot water to remove any ticks you may have missed.
If you find a tick, remove it correctly. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull straight upward with steady pressure. Avoid crushing the tick or using petroleum jelly, which can force pathogens into the skin. Place the removed tick in a sealed container or plastic bag. Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Watch the bite site for the next few weeks. A red rash that expands outward in a bull's-eye pattern, fever,