Why be concerned about ticks and tick bites? Ticks can be infected with many different bacterial diseases. Two of the most common and well-known tickborne diseases are Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease which can easily be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick.
To prevent tick bites and decrease chances of direct contact with ticks:
Remove ticks as quickly as possible. To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick, which could cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. Wash the bite area with soap and water, then disinfect with rubbing alcohol or an iodine scrub. Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in rubbing alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag (to throw in the garbage) or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your finger, you can expose yourself to tickborne disease by doing this. Avoid “painting” the tick with fingernail polish or petroleum jelly. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible, not wait for it to die and detach.
Many tick-borne diseases can have similar signs and symptoms. If you have been bitten by a tick and develop the symptoms below within a few weeks, see your health care provider immediately: Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, or a circular rash (target or “bulls-eye”) occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of infected persons.
Take these precautions to avoid ticks and enjoy your outdoor plans.