TICKED OFF ?

Try These Avoidance Tips

I do not want to alarm anyone nor do I want this information to keep you from enjoying the woods and forests of this great country of ours because disease from tick bites are rarely fatal,, but,, They can be a real nuisance. Tick season is here, and it's the worst most Outdoorsmen can remember.
The abundance of ticks makes it especially important for all Outdoorsmen to be mindful of preventing tick bites and tick-borne diseases.
Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease, Tularemia , Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Ehrilichiosis.

Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into boots makes it harder for ticks to get at you. Wearing light-colored clothing makes seeing the tick easier also. ;-)

But the most effective anti-tick tools are :

Repellants containing DEET or Permethrin. DEET can be applied directly to skin, and its protection lasts several hours. The higher the DEET content, the better it works.


For long-lasting protection, nothing beats Permethrin. Repellants with this contact-insecticide shouldn't be applied directly to skin. But when applied to clothing, Permethrin bonds to the fabric and kills ticks for at least two weeks. The chemical barrier remains effective through two clothes washings. To extend the protection even longer, store treated clothing in a plastic bag between uses.




When applying repellants, pay special attention to Waistbands, Button-Closures, Boots, and Shirt and pants cuffs. Remember ! Apply aerosol repellants in well ventilated areas, and don't spray DEET-based repellants directly on your face. Instead put a little on your hands and rub it on, avoiding the eyes and mouth.


Even if you are careful, you probably will be bitten sooner or later if you spend lots of time outdoors.


Check for ticks as soon as you get home if you are only spending the day in the woods. More often if you are spending an extended time in the woods. Like every night before bed.




If you find a Tick attached DON'T BURN IT !. (It may go in deeper to escape the heat.)
Don't cover it with a gas-soaked rag,
Don't Daub it with Petroleum jelly or do anything else that might cause the Tick to Regurgitate blood it hs already injested, exposing you to germs it might have picked up from earlier hosts.
Don't Squeeze a Tick. Squeezing engorged ticks can cause involutary regurgitation, and twisting or jerking them out is likely to leave their heads embedded in the skin, leading to secondary bacterial infections.



THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE A TICK . Grasp it firmly as close to the head as possible, using tweezers or tissues to avoid direct contact with the tick. Gently pull the Tick straight out, then use disinfectant to clean the area around the wound.





THE MOST COMMON WARNING SIGNS of tick-borne disease is a rash or swelling at the site of the bite. In Lyme Disease,a raised Bulls-Eye type rash develops within a few days, eventually reaching several inches in diameter.




If you experience "Flu Like" Symptoms, such as sore throat, fever, headaches, body aches and dizziness, following a tick bite, don't assume it's a summer cold. These are often signs of tick-borne disease. When you visit the doctor, be sure to mention that you've recently been bitten by a tick or were in a tick infested area.