It’s summertime, and this means that you are most likely going to spend a lot more time in the great outdoors. Unfortunately, this will leave you exposed to the possibility of getting bitten by ticks and chiggers. Not only will a bite cause you discomfort but it could also make you sick.
Ticks: Removing These Dangerous Pests
There are several tick-borne diseases in the U.S., including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Tularemia. Lyme disease is a medical condition that impacts the muscle and joints. Other symptoms include fatigue, fevers, headaches and a stiff neck. If the condition goes on untreated, it can eventually lead to serious issues with the heart, nervous system and joints.
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The best way to protect yourself from a tick-borne disease is to use prevention techniques such as wearing long sleeved shirts and pants, tucking your pants into your socks and avoiding deep wooded areas that are off the path. However, if you still get a tick attached to your skin, you will want to remove it as quickly as possible.
Many so-called removal tips can actually cause part of the tick to remain stuck within your skin. Using tweezers to “remove” a tick will often leave part of the tick’s (potentially infected) mouth embedded in your skin.
As the YouTube video posted above points out, though, you can safely and effectively remove ticks by using a special “twisting” maneuver. All you need is a tick twister and a little patience.
Following all of these tips can reduce the potential problems that are associated with tick and chigger bites, but it is always best to avoid them altogether. Protect yourself each time you head into the woods by wearing proper clothing and a lot of tick spray.