Tick Safety and Lyme Disease Prevention

• Tick Safety Introduction
• Tick Behavior and Lyme Disease Transmission
• Various Tick Prevention Techniques
• How to Identify and Remove Ticks
• How to Recognize Lyme Disease Symptoms
• Know When Medical Assistance is Advised

General Information: 

Top 10 tips for Tick Safety in Canada:

1. Wear Protective Clothing

• Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes.

• Tuck pants into socks or boots to prevent ticks from crawling in.

2. Stick to the Trail

• Avoid tall grass, bushy areas, and leaf litter.

• Walk in the center of trails while hiking or exploring wooded areas.

3. Use Insect Repellent

• Use repellents with DEET or icaridin on skin and clothing.

• Follow label instructions and reapply as directed.

4. Choose Light-Coloured Clothing

• Light clothes make it easier to spot ticks crawling on you before they bite.

5. Keep Your Yard Tick-Safe

• Mow the lawn regularly.

• Remove brush, tall grass, and leaf piles.

• Create a barrier of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and wooded areas.

6. Do a Full Body Tick Check

• After spending time outdoors, check your entire body, especially:

  • Underarms

  • Behind knees

  • Groin

  • Scalp and hairline

  • Around ears

7. Check Pets and Gear

• Ticks can hitch a ride on pets, backpacks, and clothing.

• Inspect pets after they’ve been outside—talk to your vet about tick prevention products.

8. Shower Within 2 Hours

• Showering soon after coming indoors helps wash off ticks and makes it easier to spot them.

9. Remove Ticks Promptly and Properly

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin.

• Pull upward steadily—don’t twist or crush it.

• Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

10. Watch for Symptoms

• Monitor for signs of Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses, such as:

  • Rash (especially a bullseye pattern)

  • Fever

  • Fatigue

  • Joint pain

• Contact a healthcare provider if you suspect a tick bite and develop symptoms.

How to Recognize Lyme Disease Symptoms

Stage 1: Early Localized (3–30 days after tick bite)

Look for symptoms like:

• Bullseye-shaped rash (called erythema migrans), usually around the bite site

• Fatigue

• Fever and chills

• Headache

• Muscle and joint aches

• Swollen lymph nodes

Note: The bullseye rash appears in about 70–80% of cases but not everyone gets it.

Stage 2: Early Disseminated (days to weeks after bite)

If untreated, the infection may spread:

• Additional rashes elsewhere on the body

• Facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy)

• Numbness or tingling in hands/feet

• Heart palpitations or chest pain

• Dizziness or shortness of breath

Stage 3: Late Disseminated (months later)

In more advanced cases:

• Chronic arthritis (especially in knees or large joints)

• Memory problems or trouble concentrating (sometimes called "Lyme brain")

• Nerve pain or numbness

Treatment Available in Canada

Antibiotics

• Early stages: A 2–3 week course of antibiotics (like doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime) is usually very effective.

• Later stages: May require longer treatment, and in some cases, IV antibiotics.

Supportive Care

• Pain relief and rest

• Physiotherapy for joint issues

• Cognitive therapy if neurological symptoms develop

When to See a Doctor

• If you’ve been bitten by a tick and notice symptoms within a few weeks

• If you develop a bullseye rash

• If you feel unwell after being in tick-prone areas (even if you didn’t see a tick)

Testing

• Blood tests can confirm Lyme, but they’re most accurate a few weeks after symptoms begin.

• Doctors usually don’t wait for test results to start treatment if Lyme is strongly suspected.

Click here for more Health Canada information on tick safety and lyme disease prevention.

Click here for additional information on preventing tick borne diseases at work.