TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WV ARES BULLETIN NR 09.18 DATE: May 3, 2009
SUBJECT: DON'T GET TICKED OFF
Now that we just finished the first activity of the year that involved being in the woods and fields, it's time to publish a bulletin that gets repeated about every year.
This is one bulletin that should be at least thought about even if it doesn't get published, and there's good reason.
Now that spring is here and summer is on it's way, we will be spending a lot more time outside and may be exposed to the hazards associated with it.
We just acquired a couple on new pups, and I've already had to take some Wood Ticks off of them. They were just crawling, but it wouldn't have been long before they would start to attach.
In any case be sure to check yourself anytime you've been outside in the fields and woods to make sure you don't bring any of those little buggers into the house with you. If you didn't bring any of them in, you should feel lucky, but how about your pets. They bring them into the house by the truck load.
Ticks carry Lime Disease that can make you feel miserable for many weeks. Signs and symptoms include fever, Flu-Like Symptoms, Fatigue, Chills, Muscle Aches, Coughs and Sore Throat. These symptoms can develop up to two weeks after a Tick has been removed. The site where the Tick was located may begin as a red dot with a faint ring around it.
You should always check yourself, or have a family member check your hair, back, neck or any area you can't see when you come in from outside.
Everyone has their own wives tales of how to remove a Tick with Vaseline, matches, and who knows what else, but the recommended procedure is to grab the Tick as close to the skin as you can and gently pull perpendicular to the skin until the Tick's head is separated from the skin, and then clean the area with alcohol. If the head of the Tick remains attached using this or your own method, see your physician or go to the hospital for surgical removal.
(Information by Don Williams, N8NUS)
(Reprinted, with modifications, of Wood County ARES District 3 Bulletin NR 08.23)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV
WV ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
WV ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator