Tick Removal

16 years ago

I received this info in my inbox today, thought I would pass it along.

Spring is here and the ticks will soon be showing their heads. Here is

a good way to get them off you, your children, or your pets. Give it a

try.

Please forward to anyone with children... or hunters or dogs, or anyone

who even steps outside in summer!!

A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share --

And it really works!!

I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where

it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the

middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the

soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick

will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift

it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that

was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and

easier for me. (I have not tried this)

Sue

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Comments (10)

jannie
16 years ago
Never heard this method. My daughter once had a tick on her face, on her cheek, right below her eye. We got him out by smearing with vaseline petroleum jelly. He came out nicely, it didn't hurt, she never developed the bulls-eye tick rash and it healed without a scar.
suzieque
16 years ago
Sorry, but False according to Snopes. It's the first one that comes up when you type in "tick".

Here is a link that might be useful: Snopes - Dishsoap/Tick
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Cameron, sorry, I didn't mean to scare anyone. Ticks have been around here for a long time and never been a problem for the tourism trade. Still, it pays to be alert, hence what I've been writing. As for France, I'm not sure what the situation is there, and I'm not sure where the Esterels are, but the CÃ´te d'Azur has a very similar climate to where I live. Even the flora is quite similar. So I guess we can safely assume ticks may be present there as well, even though, as I said, they have not been known to be a problem for the tourist trade. It's been a while since I've been to France, but I'm sure you will be able to buy insect repelent at the airport (are you flying to CDG in Paris?) and at the major locations in the CÃ´te - Cannes, Antibes or Nice come to mind. I don't think you should be too concerned about hiking in the area, just be alert to the possibility and deal with it if it happens. Of course, safe hiking in any place should include stout footwear and socks, plus long trousers and long sleeves, if the weather allows it. Not just because of ticks, but for all kinds of bugs and even plants. Sorry if I'm scaring you, it was not really my intention, but just to alert you that ticks are a lot more common than one can think of at first and appropriate measures should be taken if you're planning to spend time outdoors in this type of climate. Cameron, above all, enjoy your trip to France, the CÃ´te d'Azur is a wonderful place (used to go there for work, many moons ago). Eduarda
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We like to use a pair of firm, finely pointed splinter tweezers like those from Tweezerman. If you want to carry a pair with you, you can embed the tip into a piece or cork or synthetic cork. Or wrap tip with a double layer of blue painter's tape. The fine-point tweezers are good for when the tick is small (nymph) or embedded. You want to remove the tick soon, but there's no need to panic (tell that to me at 2 AM!) and, IMO, I think it's best to gently and evenly pull the tick out -- give it a chance to let go. I think that an unnecessary sharp yank migh risk leaving some of the mouthparts behind. The bites always leave me itching madly. Benadryl cream (topical) helps quell the itching an swelling. Cort-aid cream will also help a bit (but is t as effective as the Benadryl. Damn! I hate those nasty deer ticks. I'm hoping that our resident wild turkeys and opossums help reduce the populations. A neighbor had his yard fogged, but I would hate to resort to that as its toxic to bees (and maybe other nice critters). Function -- what concentration of permethrin do you use on your home made tick tubes? Do you dilute the liquid concentrate,or just spray Sawyers? Socks, I'm glad to started this thread. I met up with my first one crawling on me a couple of days ago. I'm still itching. Alisande -- yep about the amonia. For dog walkers, maybe have pup visit other wee wee locales. Joyful -- you are funny. Maybe just a dab of fabreeze every morning. Deer ticks doing like light, prefer shade and damp areas. They dry out in hot dry summer heat. As for climbing height, I've spotted one "seeking" 3-4 ft up a raspberry cane. I've also spotted them on my garage door and foundation. The are able to detect carbon dioxide and will crawl in that direction. Some researches use dry ice (solid CO2) in a perforated polystyrene foam box to lure them for research purposes. I am itching! Itching. I feel things crawling on me. Eeeeeee.
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cynic
16 years ago
What is important to remember is that if something comes to you via a forwarded email, it's most likely false. And if it says "forward this to everyone you know..." DON'T.

Email (and for that matter forums, websites, blogs, etc) can be a dangerous thing. It's really important to know how to use them wisely.
bee0hio
16 years ago
My little grand daughter (5yr) had a tick latched on her head last weekend. I google "how to remove a tick" & it suggested making a loop with string or thread & pulling it taut around the tick, then pull up on the thread. I did just that & it worked well. I'm always leery of the tweezer method because of pushing their secretions into the bite.

Extra little story:
After the tick was removed she & I got into a discussion of which insects suck blood.
She named a mosquito, tick, deer fly, & a grub.
I said, "naaaw, I don't think a grub sucks blood."
She says, "Mama said it did."
I repeated, "No I don't thinks so."
She looks at me very somberly & says matter of factly, "Old people don't know everything."
I just cracked up laughing!
orie
16 years ago
My dd's best friend has been very sick. Mono was thought to be the culprit and all the blood work that was done finally returned. It showed she had the antibodies not just for mono but for Erlichia, a tick-borne disease. I've never heard ot it. Gonna look it up!
socks
16 years ago
Bee---LOL! You'll have to ask your DD which grubs suck blood!
joyfulguy
16 years ago
You guys and your grub-by stories!

Hot needle.

Cigarette (if you know anyone who smokes).

About the only way to crunch 'em, once detached, or caught on the scurry, is to roll your fingernail over 'em.

I've caught one - had a bite from one, possibly another bite, within the last week: first of this year.

What really troubles one is the worry over Lyme's Disease ... and they say that the tests leave much to be desired.

ole joyful
Oakley
16 years ago
Joyful, you sound like us! We live in the country and ticks are common around here. When this City Girl first moved here, ticks freaked me out.

All you do is pull the tick out with your fingers, hold onto the tick's body close to it's head, and yank.

The fun part is lighting a match and watching it explode. Not the big one's though, just the tiny one's. LOL.

Then wash your hands with soap and water.

I get one or two on me every summer and as long as you wash your hands afterwards it's no big deal.
Marcia Thornley
16 years ago
I pulled one off the dog Tues. evening. It was gross. Engorged with blood. I soaked it with alcohol and then it came out easily with tweezers. Then it got an alcohol bath and flushed!!! Put some alcohol and then Polysporin on the bite and it's healed just fine. But I will have to check him often this summer. I've heard they're bad this year!
Georgysmom
16 years ago
I had a big bruise on my thigh and had no idea where it came from. I do bruise pretty easily so I didn't think anything of it. However, when the bruise dissipated, there was the classic bullseye. I never saw a tick, but went to the doctor and she put me on two weeks of antibiotics immediately. I hate those things and yes, this does seem to be a bad year for them.

Tick Removal

Comments (10)

jannie

suzieque

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cynic

bee0hio

orie

socks

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Oakley

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Georgysmom

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