TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 15.15 DATE: April 12, 2015
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 every few years.
This is one bulletin that should be at least thought about even if it doesn't get published every year.
Now that Spring is here and Summer is on its way, we will be spending a lot more time outside, and may be exposed to the hazards associated with it.
In any case be sure to check yourself for Ticks 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.
(A lot of the information for this bulletin was from Don Williams, N8NUS)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV