Ticks, also known as the small bloodsucking arthropods, are the leading carriers of diseases in humans throughout the United States, and are second worldwide to mosquitoes. There are two families of ticks, Ixodidae-“hard ticks” and Argasidea-“soft ticks”. You can determine the difference between a hard tick and a soft tick by their appearance; the hard tick will have a tough back plate and typically attach to the skin and feed for hours and even days, while the soft tick will have a rounded body and has a softer back plate and only attach to the skin and feed for less than an hour. Disease can be transmitted by either of these types of ticks; it occurs at different times for each type. As your Fort Worth and Dallas pest control company, we have some recommendations on how to treat and prevent tick bites, which are also recommended by medical professionals.
How to treat a tick bite?
If you, your child, or your pet is bit by a tick, you will want to remove it from the skin immediately. To remove a tick:
- Get a cotton swab or cotton ball and a small disposable container.
- Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol in the bottom of the container.
- Dip the cotton in the rubbing alcohol and apply it directly to the site of the tick (if it is loose from the skin’s surface, dab it multiple times so it cannot move).
- Take another cotton swab and dip it in the rubbing alcohol, then press and hold it directly on the tick for at least 3 minutes.
- Once the tick is suffocated, apply a dab of petroleum jelly to the site covering the tick, and then let it site for about 3 minutes.
- Finally, remove the tick with a pair of tweezers and clean off the excess petroleum jelly.
*If you have any issues when removing the tick, contact a medical professional.
The best way to handle a tick bite is through tick bite prevention.
- Avoid wooded/grassy areas as well as shrubs, which is where ticks typically hide out to prepare for their next bite for feeding.
- Wear lighter, colored clothing so ticks can be easily seen when they attach to your clothes and you can brush them off before they bite.
- When walking through heavily wooded areas, tuck your pants into your socks or boots/shoes.
- Before going outdoors, apply insect repellent; look for brands that are specifically designed for repelling ticks. Be sure to follow the application instructions and avoid using repellents containing DEET on children.
- Before heading indoors, inspect yourself and your family, including your pets, for ticks or tick bites so you can handle them immediately if bitten.
- If you have animals and pets, treat them with flea and tick prevention repellents recommended by your veterinarian.
Buzz Kill Pest Control Service Plans
While it may be difficult to constantly spray bug repellent and check your children for tick bites every time they come in and out of the house, Buzz Kill does provide Dallas Fort Worth pest control service plans to help prevent pests like ticks from invading your home. The Prime Buzz Plan and Premium Buzz Plan provide your home with regular preventative maintenance programs to focus on seasonal pest control in Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding areas. For public or corporate events, we also offer one time special event spray to help keep your outdoor event running smoothly without any annoying pest invasions.
If you have a tick problem, question, or concern, contact your Dallas pest control service today; we are here for all of your pest prevention and control needs!