Before you leave
Choose closed shoes, long sleeves, and long pants; light fabric makes crawling ticks easier to spot. Tuck your shirt into your pants and pants into socks. Apply a locally registered DEET or picaridin (icaridin) repellent according to its label. Pack fine-point tweezers and stay on cleared paths.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada · Prevent tick bitesOnce you get home
Inspect yourself, pets, clothing, and gear. Shower promptly and do a full-body check, including scalp, behind ears, underarms, waist, groin, and behind knees. Use a mirror or ask for help with difficult-to-see areas. Dry clothing can go in a hot dryer for at least 10 minutes; damp items need longer. Follow garment care instructions. Remove attached ticks promptly.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada · Prevent tick bitesMake the routine easy to repeat
Store your inspection kit beside the entrance you use after outdoor activity. Add a bright flashlight, a hand mirror, a small secure specimen container, and a paper bite record. Keep repellent with your outdoor bag rather than somewhere you will forget it. Your routine should still work after a short dog walk or a day in the yard.
For a group trip, agree on who is checking children and where the removal kit is kept. Put a reminder on your packing list for the return-home check. Having supplies available is more useful than buying an elaborate kit that stays in a cupboard.
Protection has several layers
No single spray, garment, or pet treatment eliminates all exposure. Choose complementary habits: avoid brushing vegetation, use appropriate protection, check carefully, and respond to bites. If you find an attached tick, switch from prevention shopping to the removal guide.
Product approval, labels, and clinical advice differ between countries. This educational guide is not an individual medical or veterinary assessment.
Make the next step practical.
Keep a routine you can follow before and after time outside.
Build your prevention checklist