How to reduce your risk of mosquito & tick bites

This is the time of year when we all love being outdoors as much as possible; camping, picnicking, hiking or just working or playing in the yard.  However, we are not alone, mosquitos and ticks also enjoy this time of year and their bites can cause a range of health problems, from itchiness and irritation to potentially serious diseases.

{Mosquito – Image source: Alvesgaspar (CC)}

Mosquitoes can bite at any time of the day, but most species are more active at dawn and dusk.  Ticks are often found alongside hiking trails, particularly in wooded areas or tall grass.

{Deer tick – Image source: Scott Bauer

Besides using an insect repellent, you can cut your risk by following the steps listed below:

• Get rid of standing water: Mosquitos breed in standing pools of water, so remove standing water from items such as pool covers, saucers under flower pots, pet bowls, old tires and wading pools on your property. Empty and clean bird baths twice a week, and regularly clean eavestroughs to prevent clogs that can trap water.
• Stay inside: Whenever possible, avoid being outdoors at dawn or dusk when mosquitos are most active.
• Wear long clothes: Wear long-sleeved shirts, full length pants and closed shoes if you are outdoors when mosquitos are active or where ticks might be found.
• Tuck in clothes: If you are in an area where ticks might be found, you should also tuck your shirt into your pants and pull socks up over your pant legs. This will help keep ticks away from your bare skin.
• Wear light colours: Light-coloured clothing will help reduce your overall attractiveness to mosquitos and allow you to see ticks more easily.
• Seal holes in screens and doors: Make sure you have screens on your windows that do not have any tears or gaps. Make sure doors are tight-fitting.
• Check clothes and pets for ticks: When returning from areas where ticks are found, check your clothes and your entire body for ticks. It is also important to regularly check pets.

For more information on mosquito & tick bites please visit the Health Canada website.  Information contained in this post was obtained from Health Canada.