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Being an outdoor camp, we do run the risk of having campers and staff exposed to the elements and wildlife around us. Ticks are in the woods at Hale and we want to provide some helpful information for folks to learn about ticks and best practices for regularly checking for ticks.
What are Ticks?
Ticks are small parasites that feed on warm-blooded hosts, such as humans. Ticks can be found in wooded areas and are difficult to see due to their small size. A tick bite can infect humans with diseases such as Lyme disease, so it is important to check for ticks and remove any ticks latched onto you as soon as possible.
How to Check for Ticks
As ticks are attached to you, they feed on your blood and grow in size, and may be easier to see. However, there are ways to spot ticks before they bite you or become engorged with blood. Examine clothing, hair, and skin after spending time in a woodsy area.
Ticks prefer areas with soft skin and good blood flow such as:
Scalp
Back
Between legs
Legs (especially behind the knees)
Belly button
In or around ears
Under arms
Around waist
How to Remove a Tick
Use tweezers to grasp the tick’s mouthparts and slowly pull it out of the skin
DO NOT PULL ABRUPTLY, as this may tear apart the tick and leave the mouth parts embedded in the skin.
The tick may be stuck, so pull it out steadily and be patient.
DO NOT SQUEEZE, as this may burst the tick and release infective fluids into the wound.
DO NOT APPLY substances such as petroleum jelly or bug spray while the tick is attached.
Clean with soap and water after removal.
Dispose of the tick using one of the following methods:
Flush down toilet
Place tick in a cup of rubbing alcohol
Place the tick in a sealable plastic bag and dispose of using an outdoor garbage bin.
Sources
https://phc.amedd.army.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/HowtoCheckforTicksandRemoval_FS_18-092-0919.pdf
https://www.afcurgentcare.com/worcester/patient-services/tick-removal/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7234-tick-bites
https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html
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