Tick Bites, First Aid 

Ticks are 8-legged creatures (arachnids) that live in wooded and grassy areas. Ticks attach themselves to a human host as the person brushes past leaves, grass, etc that the tick is on – ticks do not jump or fall on a person. Once on a person, ticks move to a warm and moist location (eg, armpit, groin, back of the knee, hairline), where they burrow into the host's skin and feed off their blood.

While most ticks are harmless, some carry disease and may transmit illness (eg, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever) to their host. Certain ticks can even inject venom that causes temporary paralysis in their host (called tick paralysis).

First Aid Guide
To remove an embedded tick:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Clean tweezers by boiling them or by pouring antiseptic solution (eg, isopropyl alcohol) over them.
3. With tweezers, grasp the tick as close to its head or mouth as possible, and pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin, and make sure all parts of the tick are completely removed. Note: Be sure to not twist the tick body as you pull it out.
4. Wash the area completely with soap and water.

After the tick has been completely removed, watch for approximately the next few weeks for signs of infection or illness, particularly if the tick was likely attached for over 24 hours. (See When To Seek Medical Care.)

Prevention
The most important thing to consider regarding ticks is that prevention of tick bites is key. While in wooded areas, tall grass, or brush, consider doing the following:

• Wear long pants and long sleeves.
• Wear your socks over the outside of your pant legs.
• Tuck your shirt into your pants.
• Wear light-colored clothes so that ticks can easily be spotted.
• Spray your clothes and exposed skin with insect repellant.
• Frequently check your clothes and skin for ticks.

It is important to remove a tick within 24 hours, if possible. Once home, remove your clothes and thoroughly inspect all skin surface areas. Don't forget your scalp! As ticks can be quite small, carefully evaluate all black or brown spots on the skin.