Check for Ticks!
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I’m sure you’ve heard about Lyme disease and how it’s carried by some ticks so here’s a few tips on how to prevent getting ticks while camping and what to do if you get one.
First of all, let’s focus on protection. Here’s a couple of tips.
- Wear light colored clothing so you can see the ticks on you.
- Pull your socks up over your pant legs to prevent ticks from crawling in.
- Wear a long sleeved shirt and a hat.
- Wear insect repellant. I tend to spray an extra dose around my ankles when I’m hiking on trails.
- Check yourself and others for ticks after a hike, especially around the head and ears.
If you happen to get one attached to you, here’s what to do.
- Stay calm
- Take some tweezers from your camp kit or first aid kit and grasp the tick close to the skin and gently pull until it comes out. You don’t want to rip it out, or you might leave the mouth parts in your skin.
- Wash the wound with soap and water, put on antibiotic ointment.
- After dealing with the tick make sure you wash your hands.
Watch for symptoms over the next 48 hours to week, which are:
- A red ring-like rash may appear around the bite area
- Flu-like symptoms like fatigue, muscle and join pain, headache, fever, swollen glands, sore throat and stiff neck.
If you experience these symptoms after tick remove, please see a physician.
Above all, check with the Park Ranger of the campground to see if ticks inhabit in your camping area. He/she will give you some advice on local conditions and possible areas to stay away from. Then you’re prepared to have a fun campout!
Tags: bugs, camping, camping tips, campouts, insects, lyme disease, ticksIf you liked this post, buy me a coffee.
gearbag geek said,
August 20, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Really like yor blog and your article in Camping Life. I’m still a novice camper but we get out there whenever we can. Got any good tips on how to keep the bees and hornets away? The citronella candles and bug sprays work great on the skeeters but don’t know how to keep the other guys away. Thanks!
TheCampingGuy said,
August 21, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Bees and Wasp…and Hornets are no fun at campouts. I recommend making some simple traps to distract them away from you and your campers. There’s some simple traps at this link: http://eartheasy.com/live_natwasp_control.htm
Also…rumor has it that fabric softener sheets that you put in the dryer will keep them away too. Put some around where you are eating. Haven’t tried this yet. So, let me know if that works.
gearbag geek said,
August 23, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
Thanks for the tip. I’ll definitelt try the soda bottle trap which my 10 yr old son sholud find pretty cool. I might try the PheroTech too to see how that works. Will see which works this Labor Day weekend. I have one more question if you don’t mind, we camp in the Sierras here in California, just north of Yosemite. I just read on a bear site that bears could also be attracted to the scent of citronella. I’ve used the candles before in camp as well as some of the natural repellents that smell like citronella. Had no problems but just wondering if I should skip them in he future. Thanks again.
TheCampingGuy said,
August 23, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Hmmm….haven’t heard of that one! May want to check with the Ranger at the campsite to see what they say.
Kate said,
August 27, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
Tim, A good idea if you have to remove a tick (from a human or pet) is to keep the dead tick in a little jar of alcohol (a 35mm film cannister works great for this). That way, if you do start to see symptoms you can have the offending critter tested to see if it carries Lyme Disease.
Gearbag Geek: In the Canadian Rockies and northern British Columbia and Ontario where there are a lot of bears, the rangers recommend that you have nothing with scent left out in your campground. That means no citronella candles, no toothpaste or gum in your tent, etc.
Pack everything into the car or hang it up at night, or when you’re away from the campsite for more than a few minutes.
If you’re in deep bear country, don’t wear any scent (deodorant, cologne or perfume). I once had a bear try to eat my Nalgene bottle of water and that was just from the scent left from my hands. The hole left by his tooth in the bottle was twice the size of a quarter.
Great blog Tim!
sqdirect » Blog Archive » Check for Ticks! said,
October 25, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
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