Facts
  • Ticks are bloodsucking parasites that feed on mammals, birds, reptiles and others.
  • They are dependent on blood and tissue fluids from the host.
  • More vector-borne diseases are transmitted by ticks than any other agent.
  • The longer an infective tick feeds, the greater the chance of infection.
  • Ticks can attach for hours or days.
  • Disease will not be transmitted if tick is removed quickly.

 

Prevention
  • Spray clothing with 0.5 % permethrin and dry overnight to kill ticks before they can attach.
  • Wear insect repellants with DEET.
  • Combining Permethrin on clothing and DEET on skin is 100% effective against ticks.
  • Wear long clothing of tightly woven material.
  • Tuck pant legs into socks.
  • Avoid shrubbery.
  • Stay on widest part of the path.
  • Inspect body regularly when traveling through thick brush.

 

Planning/Packing Guide
  • Long clothing of tightly woven material treated with permethrin
  • Insect repellent with DEET

 

First Aid
  • Remove tick with tweezers by grasping skin at insertion site (not the tick's body) and pulling straight outward.
  • Do NOT use hot wires, matches, glue, fingernail polish or Vaseline.
  • Clean wound with antiseptic.
  • Cold packs or damp towels and 1% hydrocortisone cream for itching
  • Oral antihistamine (Benadryl) for allergic reaction
  • Oral pain medication for pain and itch
  • Be alert to signs of illness.

 

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