When I think about the negative impact a tick bite can have on a person, I immediately think of an old friend from my high school days. She was diagnosed with Lyme Disease back in our early teenage years. At the time, she battled the worst case of Lyme Disease in the country. And she continues to face serious struggles with it to this day. Her story, as well as those from many other friends battling Lyme Disease, have opened my eyes to just how serious a tick bite can be.

Lyme Disease, as well as Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS), are two hot topics these days when it comes to health hazards found in the whitetail woods. The lesser known, Alpha-gal, has been in the spotlight more and more these days as a number of high-profile hunters have been diagnosed in recent years.

The Alpha-gal allergy, also known as the red meat allergy or tick bite allergy, is believed to be triggered by the lone star tick. It’s a serious, and potentially life-threatening allergy that can be found in meat (pork, beef, venison, etc.) and products made from mammals. 

What’s the best solution for preventing these illnesses during your hunting and outdoor adventures? The answer is, Permethrin. 

The stuff works like nothing else when it comes to keeping the ticks away. The key is to treat your clothes with a product like Sawyer Permethrin Fabric Treatment ahead of your hunt. But there are some things you need to know about using permethrin before you put it to use this season.

We reached out to our friends at Sawyer for more info on the permethrin product, and they had just about every question covered. Check out the info below for a look at what you need to know before you get started with permethrin. 

Permethrin is a synthetic version of the Chrysanthemum flower’s natural insect repellent pyrethrin. The naturally occurring version breaks down rather quickly in sunlight but Sawyer’s pharmaceutical grade, synthetic Permethrin can last 6 weeks or 6 washings on clothing and other fabrics, making it a fantastic odorless barrier of protection from mosquitoes and ticks.

It is recommended that treating clothing with the permethrin aerosol be performed outdoors. If the treatment is accidentally carried out indoors, no adverse health effects are expected based upon calculations of inhaled dose.

However, individuals with breathing problems, such as asthma, may be at greater risk. The odor arising from treating fabric with permethrin is mostly from the aerosol propellants rather than from the insect repellent itself.

Studies in animals have demonstrated that no skin irritation or sensitization is expected following direct application. In a controlled human study, permethrin did not cause significant skin irritation or sensitization when tested on 200 subjects. No significant skin effects are expected from wearing permethrin-treated clothing.

No. Permethrin will not damage clothes or equipment. Unlike DEET, which may harm some fabrics and materials, Permethrin is compatible for use even on fragile fabrics such as silk, plus all synthetics and waterproof membrane fabrics. 

Permethrin will not affect plastics or finishes. If in doubt, try a sample on an obscure surface area, especially on delicates and check it after 24 hours of exposure. Sawyer Permethrin Insect Repellent is odorless, non-greasy, and non-staining after it dries.

Permethrin can be harmful to aquatic creatures such as fish, so do not spray Permethrin around fish aquariums.

A strong bond is formed between permethrin and most fabrics. In fact, some insect repellency was observed in military uniforms following 50 launderings. However, the uniforms were treated using an absorption method instead of the aerosol can. 

In studies performed by the U.S. Army, about 20 to 30 percent of the permethrin treatment was removed after the first laundering. Thereafter, about 3 to 5 percent was lost to each cycle through ten launderings.

Most of us take tickborne illnesses for granted until it hits close to home. But once you realize how big of an impact diseases and allergies like Lyme and Alpha-gal can have, you’ll likely push to take the extra steps to stay protected. 

Keep your family protected this hunting season by treating your clothing and boots with permethrin. See more at www.sawyer.com. 

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *