Help protect yourself from tick-borne diseases by treating your clothes with permethrin - free event hosted by the Wilkes Barre Area Community Gardens!
Permethrin is a poison (insecticide) that can bond to fibers in clothing and other fabrics to K*ll or repel ticks as well as mosquitoes, fleas, mites, lice, and other tiny creatures. It affects creatures that get on your treated fabric, but once it dries, it won't hurt people or other mammals. It also won't hurt bugs that just get near you without getting on your treated clothing or gear.
You will be able to treat an outdoor outfit for free at this event; details below. Choose something appropriate for working in the garden if you like!
You will also be able to learn about ticks, including how ticks experience the world to find prey, and a little about tick-borne diseases.
What to bring:
One summer weight outdoor outfit (for example, shirt, socks, and pants) in a ziploc bag* with no holes
A second ziploc bag with no holes
A third bag (any type - a grocery bag is fine) with no holes to carry things home in
Disposable gloves, latex or non-latex, that you won't mind throwing away when you're done.
*If your outfit won't fit in one ziploc bag, you can bag pieces separately. Bring pairs of ziplocs so you can double bag, and make sure everything will fit in your grocery bag to carry things home in. The brand doesn't matter - we just mean a large plastic bag that zips closed and won't leak at all.
NOTE: Children are welcome to bring one outfit each to treat as well! However, each treated outfit must be given only to an adult who will be responsible for making sure everything is safely hung to dry.
The WBACG is providing materials and information, but you will be responsible for handling your own bagged outfits after learning how to do it safely. Permethrin is dangerous if handled incorrectly.
Ideally, you should have an outdoor clothesline or other area where you can hang your clothes to dry. If you do not have access to this, we can talk about options for you.
Learn more about permethrin:
https://wapo.st/4kJBEaT (no paywall)
