Don’t get TICKED this summer
When it comes to ticks, ignorance is the opposite of bliss. Prevention & awareness are the key tools to preventing ticks this summer!
Ticks are responsible for the spread of infectious, life threatening diseases. One of the most commonly known illness that is spread by ticks is Lyme Disease.
How to Avoid Ticks
- Stay out of weedy, tick-infested areas.
- Make frequent personal inspections.
- Examine children at least twice daily. Pay special attention to the head and neck.
- Check clothing for crawling ticks.
- Keep dogs tied or penned in a mowed area as they may bring ticks into the home or yard. Check them daily. If ticks are found, follow tick removal instructions.
- If exposure to a tick-infested area is unavoidable, tuck pant cuffs into socks or boots. Wearing light-coloured clothing makes it easier to find crawling ticks.
People living in tick-infected areas should:
- Mow grass short in the backyard
- Keep mulch and leaf litter away from the main entrance to the house
- Trim shrubs , overhanging paths and play areas
Where can ticks be found ?
Ticks live in tall grass or shrubs.
They do not jump or fly, although they may drop from their perch and fall onto a host.
Ticks are not insects!
Ticks are arachnids, which means they’re related to spiders.
Ticks even look like spiders, they have:
- Four pairs of legs
- No antennae
- They don’t fly or jump
Tick Bites
Ticks are not like other biting insects, if you are bitten by a tick, it will stick around for a few days.
The tick burrows its head into your skin, inserts its feeding tube then injects a cocktail of blood-thinning, numbing, human-immune-system-fighting saliva.
Ticks usually feed for about 2 -3 days & female ticks swell up to double its normal size
Do ticks in NSW transmit infections?
A species of paralysis tick called Ixodes holocyclus can be found along Australia’s east coast and can cause tick paralysis, tick typhus and allergic reactions.
While there is no evidence that Lyme disease is caused by Australian ticks, there may be other infections carried by Australian ticks which may cause an infection which is similar to Lyme disease.
To date, these infections remain poorly characterised.
How to Inspect Yourself for Ticks
- Remove your clothing and place it in the bathtub so that if any ticks have attached to your clothing they cannot escape.
- Run your fingers through your hair over your scalp to feel for any lumps
- Use a fine-tooth comb if you have long hair
- Using a full-length mirror or a handheld mirror inspect your entire body for any black spots that could be ticks. Shake out your clothing over the bathtub to be sure there are not ticks latched on.
- Wash clothes into the washing machine to kill off any ticks that may have been hiding.
How to Check Animals for Ticks
- Gently feel your pets’ skin, going against the fur.
- Look inside the lips, nose cavity, ears, corner of the eyes, between the toes and under the arms, legs and tail.
- If you find a tick, don’t stop searching as animals usually have more than one tick
How to remove a tick
Materials Needed
- Pointy Tweezers
- Rubbing Alcohol or Soap & Water
Steps
- Clean the area around the tick bite with rubbing alcohol
- Place the tweezers right down on your skin so you can grab as close as possible to the tick’s head
- Pull up slow and firm. Don’t jerk or twist; apply a nice, steady pressure & pull straight up
- Clean the bite area again, and your hands, with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
WARNING: Never Crush a tick between your fingers, to avoid contracting diseases from the tick
If you are facing an issue with ticks contact Sydneys Best Pest Control on 1800 819 189
Our team are experienced in eradicating tick issues across Sydney
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