If you and your family love to go camping, you should be aware of the risk of ticks and the diseases involved. Known carriers of bacteria that cause Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ticks represent a danger to everyone bit. Folk tales that have evolved over the years about tick removal also put everyone at risk. There are right and wrong ways for tick removal.
Burn It or Smother It
The idea of lighting a match and burning a tick out will not work. Often times the heat from the hot match will cause the body of the tick to break, leaving the head and mouth portions embedded. Another old folk tale involves smothering the bite with petroleum jelly, cutting off oxygen to the tick and causing it to die. The rubbing action of applying the ointment will break the tick, again leaving the mouth or head embedded.
Either of these methods runs the risk of irritating the tick and stimulating release of the saliva or the stomach contents. This will introduce bacteria directly into the wound.
Jerking or Twisting
When removing a tick with an instrument such as a pair of tweezers, it's important to pull gently upward, using smooth steady pressure. If you grab the tick by the body and twist or jerk it out, you will more than likely break it. This will not only release fluid that might be infectious but it will leave pieces of your tick in the puncture wound. A tick not fully removed, remains a threat of disease. Grasp the tick as close to the surface of the skin as you can, and use one smooth movement to remove it.
Improper Disinfecting
One of the most important steps in tick removal is to disinfect the bite. Removing the full tick alone is not enough. You will need alcohol or iodine to clean the wound and kill any bacteria present.
You must also be aware of your own safety. It's possible that the tick has transferred bacteria to you. Wear gloves or use something to cover you hands as you extract the tick. Wash and disinfect your hands before and after the removal.
Timing
Check for ticks often and when you see one, remove it as soon as possible. Leaving a tick embedded gives it more time to spread disease. Don't panic and pull it out, but stop what you are doing and set up properly. Be prepared when hiking or camping. Have all the equipment and first aid supplies with you.
Check Your Clothes
It's a big mistake to check the skin only. Ticks can attach themselves to clothing or back packs and bite you later. Since a tick bite can be painless, you may not be aware of it. Checking all the clothing and equipment is an important step to keep everyone safe.
Be Aware
Be aware of the symptoms of infection. Things to look for include fever, rash, muscle aches and joint pain. If you or anyone in your party starts to feel ill, get medical help immediately.
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