Dealing with Ticks (Ixodes scapularis)
In this short video, Adventurer Wolfmaan talks about Ticks. Ticks are closely related to spiders. They are typically small when unfed, (1 to 5 mm in length), and all active stages feed on blood. They cannot fly and they move quite slowly. Ticks usually come in contact with people or animals by positioning themselves on tall grass and bushes. They may take several hours to find a suitable place on the host to attach to feed. Most tick bites are painless. The majority of bites will not result in disease because most ticks are not infected with the agent of Lyme disease.
Prompt removal of ticks from your skin will help prevent infection, since transmission of the Lyme disease agent usually requires the tick to be attached for more than 24 hours.
Using fine-tipped tweezers, carefully grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible.
Pull it straight out, gently but firmly.
Don’t squeeze it. Squeezing the tick can cause the Lyme disease agent to be accidentally introduced into your body.
Don’t put anything on the tick, or try to burn the tick off.
After the tick has been removed, place it in screw-top bottle (like a pill vial or film canister), and take it to your doctor or local health unit. They can send it to the Ontario Public Health Laboratory for identification. Establishing the type of tick may help to assess your risk of acquiring Lyme disease.
It is important to remember where you most likely acquired the tick. It will help public health workers to identify areas of higher risk.
Thoroughly cleanse the bite site with rubbing alcohol and/or soap and water.