This Is the Only Thing You Should Do If a Tick Lands on You
Good Housekeeping Caroline Picard 10 hrs ago (Posted here 10:20 P.M., 19 May 2019)
"Scientists already predict Lyme disease to surge this year, but a viral tick "trick" could put people even more at risk.
The popular Facebook video advises dousing the parasites in peppermint oil, causing them to float up and away from the skin. "Death to ticks!!" the caption exclaims. Almost a half million viewers have since shared the post, recommending it to their friends and family.
The only problem? The "tip" directly contradicts experts' advice and actually increases the likelihood of contracting tickborne illnesses, like Lyme and Powassan virus.
"Ticks carry all sorts of diseases," entomologist Dr. Neeta Connally recently told KFGO. "Those are actually salivated into the body when the tick attaches, and so we don't want to agitate the tick in any way that is going to make it salivate more and thereby be more likely to transmit anything." That includes drowning them in peppermint oil, of course.
The Centers for Disease Control also discourages "folklore remedies" like nail polish, petroleum jelly and heat that lift the tick away from the skin. "Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible – not wait for it to detach," the CDC says.
Instead of wasting your essential oils, pull out a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, and pull straight up with steady pressure. Then thoroughly clean the bite (and your hands) with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
To get rid of the pests, put them in a sealed bag or container, or just flush them down the toilet. Of course, if you develop a rash or fever soon afterwards, go to the doctor straight away.
Since the parasites transmit over 10 dangerous diseases to their human (and pet!) hosts, it's important to get immediate care. Early recognition and treatment can decrease the risk of serious complications later on".
And here is another article with some good info:
Why All Parents Need to Be on the Lookout for "Seed Ticks" This Summer
Country Living
Jessica Mattern 4 days ago (Posted here 10:30 P.M., 19 May 2017)
"Research tells us that 2017 is going to be a bad year for ticks, Lyme disease, and the Powassan virus, a deadly disease spread by the parasites. If you live in an area where these are a concern, there's one more danger you need to be aware of this summer, unfortunately-especially if you have pets or kids at home.
Beka Setzer, a mom of two young daughters from Ohio, shared some alarming photos of her daughter's run-in with "seed ticks" last summer on Facebook in an effort to warn other families. After spending just 30 minutes playing outside, her daughter Emmalee was covered in these small, hard-to-see larval ticks. Beka removed them right away, but Emmalee still became sick soon after.
"I'm putting this out there, just a heads up for parents of kids who love to play outside," Beka wrote on Facebook. "Emmalee was playing outside yesterday rolling around on the ground while enjoying the sprinkler. After coming inside and laying down for a nap I just happened to notice tiny (and I mean tiny) little black dots all over her legs, abdomen, arms, and armpit area. Thinking they may have just been seeds I tried to wipe then scrape one off and it was a tick! She must've been playing in or near a nest of tick larvae and was covered."
Beka proceeded to remove more than 100 ticks from her daughter's body. Within 90 minutes, she detached the ticks, but that didn't prevent Emmalee from waking up the next morning with spots covering her body and a swollen and hard lymph node. This mom took her daughter to see a doctor right away, and she was prescribed aggressive antibiotics and antihistamines. "I want to make every parent aware of what these look like so you can be on the lookout," Beka wrote. "They're not as easy to see as the ticks you're likely looking for on yourself or children."
More recently, Beka shared a photo of another seed tick she found on her daughter, and placed it next to a penny to show its small size. The ticks can easily be mistaken for seeds, spots, freckles, or dirt, and they're even more difficult to spot on cats and dogs.
While seed ticks are smaller than regular ticks, they cannot be simply wiped or flicked off the body. To properly remove the tick, it's best to use a pair of tweezers to detach both the body and head, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Place the removed tick in a container or baggie to be tested later and then disinfect the site of the bite. You can learn more about tick removal on the CDC's website".
I can only hope some of you pursue the above more diligently on behalf of your children and your pets. Yes, I may be an old worry wart, but we are talking the little ones who have no way to protect themselves against what is going to be a tough summer. And even those who are "macho" as all get out should think on this? 'nuff said'.