Learn the trick to removing a tick, avoiding being bitten by a tick, and what to do if you are bitten.
When walking in the woods and fields, one must take precautions against a small insect called a tick. Although they are generally not dangerous, in some parts of the country they are now known to carry a bacterial infection Borrelia Burgdorferi, or Lyme Disease.
This infection is most common in the Northeast, in the states from Maryland to Massachusetts, in Wisconsin and Minnesota and Northern California. I also know of several cases here in the state of Pennsylvania where I come from.
Tick season usually begins in early spring and will continue through until late fall. The ticks that are known carriers of this disease are deer ticks, so if you are a hunter, these ticks can be found during hunting season on the deer that you may bring home. They are also commonly found, not just in the woods, but near wood piles in your yard, stone fences, in leaves or any place where rodents may nest.
If you do happen to find a tick on your self, you will of course need to remove it. A tick will bury it's head under your skin in order to "drink" blood, so it is very important to remove the head as well as the body. As well as making sure that you get it out alive.
The reasoning behind total body, live removal is, if you leave the head under your skin, it will remain there and cause any number of infections. Also if you injure the tick, as it dies it will regurgitate your blood, back into your blood stream along with all of the bacteria and germs the tick was carrying.
To remove the tick, first of all do not panic, this is not a life threatening situation at this point, but if you panic it could be. First of all make sure you have easy access to the spot in which the tick is located, if need be have someone help you hold hair out of the way, or fashion something to hold hair out of the way for you. You must have a clear view of what you are doing.
You will need tweezers to remove a tick, be sure to sterilize them either by using rubbing alcohol or running them through a flame several times. If using the flame method make sure they are cool before using them for tick removal. If you have no access to tweezers, it is best to use a paper towel, napkin or tissue, do not grab the tick with your bare hands!
Next, grasping the tick as close to the head as you can get, start pulling back away from your skin, but be gentle. The object here is to get the tick to let go, on it's own. Do not squeeze the tick, just use enough pressure to hold onto it. Keep a steady pressure on the tick, and if need be jiggle it slightly. Do not rotate the tick or you will separate the head from the body. You may have to keep the pressure up for 30 seconds to a minute or two, in order to convince the tick it no longer wishes to be attached to your skin.
If after several minutes the tick still will not let go, try dripping a drop of rubbing alcohol on the tick. Repeat this step once a minute for up to 10 minutes. But be careful, using too much alcohol can sometimes cause the tick to regurgitate. They will generally always let go, if this step is needed.
Now once the tick has been removed, make sure that you have the head. If not further digging may be necessary, and I would recommend seeing a doctor at this point. Also do not dispose of the tick, it is a good idea to put your tick in a ziplock baggie or a small glass jar, so that it can be checked for Lyme Disease. Also treat the removal area with a disinfectant, and keep it clean and dry.
Also it is important to mark this day on your calender. Generally if you have contracted Lyme Disease you will get a rash, this rash can show up anywhere from one day to one month from the time you were bitten. The rash will have a bulls-eye, and along with the rash, you may get flu like symptoms, a headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, fever and fatigue. While if Lyme Disease is treated early with antibiotics there are generally no lasting problems, if untreated it can cause permanent nervous system damage and in some cases even death. Many doctors have never seen Lyme Disease, so be sure to tell your doctor, if you are feeling poorly, that you have been bitten, and give the date that you have written on your calender.
Remember not all ticks carry Lyme Disease but it is better to be safe than sorry. If you have any questions either contact a health care professional or your local hospital.
While most of us cannot avoid going out of doors, there are some precautions to take to make sure that you will not get bitten by a tick. If you know that you are going to be going into the woods, a field or even to work in the yard, wear light colored clothing with long pants and long sleeves. The light colored clothing will contrast to the dark color of the tick making them easy to spot. If at all possible wear boots and tuck your pant legs into your boots. Also before you leave the area, check yourself and even your pets for any ticks. Carry tweezers or a knife that has a set of tweezers enclosed every time you go out. It also would not hurt to carry a small ziplock bag.
There are several commercial tick repellents on the market. There are clothing treatments that seem to be quite effective in killing ticks. You apply this to your clothing and it will even last through several washings. Also there are some insect repellants being made now, that are also work for ticks. Be sure to follow any instructions on the labels of these, particularly regarding children.
While these methods will not guarantee that you will not get bitten by a tick, they will certainly help the odds. Also if you are bitten, do not panic, but do your best to remove the entire, live tick. And be sure to contact your doctor.
