The warning everyone must read about ticks

Have you removed a tick before? They can attach to you from your pets or from being in nature. But whatever you do.. don’t do this. Kassy sent us through this warning about ticks.

“I was taken by ambulance to hospital yesterday after removing a tick from my head. Within 15 minutes my whole body was covered in welts and I nearly stopped breathing, but quick action saved me. I took a Telfast antihistamine, and 5 puffs of ventolin and 2 puffs of flixotide. It saved my life. I went into anaphylactic shock. I have an Epipen now if it happens again. Doctors say to freeze the tick with a freeze spray or go to doctor or hospital to have them remove it”.

According to QLD Health, the key treatment of tick bite is prompt and complete removal of the tick. Use fine tipped tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Gently pull the tick straight out with steady pressure.

Alternatively a tick may be removed using the knot method. Make a loose half-hitch in a thread such as a piece of dental floss. The open knot is slipped over the tick as close as possible to the skin and then pulled taut. The embedded tick then usually somersaults out. If you have difficulty removing all parts of the tick, seek medical attention.

To avoid ticks:

• Cover as much of your body as possible when out in bush or forest areas. Wear a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants with the legs tucked into your socks.
• Use insect repellents, such as products with DEET.
• Clear leaves, brush, tall grasses, woodpiles, and stone fences from around your house and the edges of your yard or garden. This may help reduce ticks and the rodents that the ticks depend on.

Do you have any other tick tips?