If you do go into such areas, cover up as mush as possible. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, long socks pulled up over your pant legs, enclosed shoes or boots, and a hat. Wear light colours. Ticks are dark and easier to see against a light background. Remove clothes and do a daily 'tick-check' after being outdoors.
Some ticks are quite small, usually the size of a pin-head or freckle.
Regularly check children and pets after they have been outside in areas where ticks might be found. Carefully remove all ticks. If it is infected, the bacteria may burrow into your skin. Slowly pull the tick straight out do not jerk or twist it. Note that rumoured remedies like matches, cigarettes, or Vaseline DO NOT WORK and may cause an infected tick to pump bacteria into the wound.