This article was
found on the HPR Forum
Lyme Disease (Avoidance and Removal of Ticks)
Lyme disease is a serious illness that can be passed on to you from
the bite of an infected deer tick.
To Minimize Your Exposure to Ticks
Walk in the middle of trails, away from tall grass and bushes
Were a long-sleeved shirt
Wear white or light-colored clothing to make it easier to see ticks
Wear a hat
Spray tick repellent on clothes and shoes before entering woods
Wear long pants tucked into high socks
Wear shoes, no bare feet or sandals
How to Remove an Imbedded Tick
It is very important to remove an imbedded tick as soon as it is
found. This will reduce the chance of infection in case the deer
tick is infected with the bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi.
Do
Use blunt tweezers or rounded forceps
Carefully grasp the tick as close as possible to its barbed mouth
parts which are imbedded in the skin
Twist until the tick lets go (be patient – proper tick removal
will take time)
If tweezers are unavailable, wear rubber gloves or place towel or
cloth between your fingers and the tick, then pull upward firmly
and steadily until tick lets go
Don't
Jerk, squeeze or twist the tick’s body*
Place petroleum jelly; butter; alcohol, kerosene or gasoline on the
tick*
Coat the tick with nail polish*
Burn the tick with an extinguished cigarette butt*
Place a hot match near the tick*
* These methods of removal cause the tick to become nervous and excited and the tick may inject disease carrying fluid into the person’s body.
After Removing the Tick
Cleanse area of the skin where the tick was attached. Use alcohol
or an iodine preparation, such as betadine, unless allergic to
such solutions
Wash hands thoroughly
Contact a physician if the tick’s mouth parts remain in the
skin
Check the bite area on a regular basis for approximately one month
Contact a physician if any of the following symptoms develop:
Red rash at bite site
Pain or stiffness in muscles or joints
Nausea/vomiting
Slight Fever
Drooping of an eyelid or corner of mouth
Fatigue
Headache
Irregular or rapid heartbeat
Joint swelling
Jaw discomfort
Inflammation of the eyes
Swollen glands
Neck stiffness
Skin rashes other than at bite site
Sore throat