Which personal protective measure can help avoid tick bites?

Tucking pants into socks is an effective personal protective measure to avoid tick bites because it creates a physical barrier that makes it more difficult for ticks to reach the skin. By preventing ticks from crawling up the legs, this strategy helps reduce the risk of bites while walking through areas where ticks are prevalent, such as tall grasses and wooded areas. It is important to ensure that there are no openings for ticks to access the skin, and this method effectively minimizes that risk.

In contrast, wearing bright colors in nature may help in spotting ticks but does not provide any actual protection against bites. Using direct sunlight to repel ticks is a misconception, as ticks are not significantly deterred by sunlight and often remain active in sunny areas. Finally, skipping the use of hats does not relate to tick prevention; hats do not affect the likelihood of ticks on the body, especially since ticks typically crawl up from the ground and are more prevalent on legs and arms.