Ticks!

matthewdanger

matthewdanger

Joined
Jan 29, 2003
Messages
1,568
I was out on a great new(ish) orienteering course in my area yesterday. I didn't pick up any ticks but I did have a couple in my clothes when I got home. I see a ton of gadgets on the market and don't want to waste my cash. How are you guys removing ticks these days? What works?
 
I just do the twist and pull method. But ALWAYS make sure to get the head of that bugger. I've tried other gadgets but this way is the best for me.

**edit**
Also the hot end of a match should make a tick back out but not always.
 
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the best one gadget i've seen is called Easy Grip made by scs. ltd.--p.o.box573--stony point ny 10980. a little semi split metal contraption that works in a mechanical fashion to safely remove the head with the body. hope they are still in business since it really works.
 
It's not really applicable here, but my dad used to inflate the area with an anesthetic and then cut it out with a scalpel. Me personally, in the rare occassion that I do get a tick (they don't seem to like me much) I just use really sharp tweezers.
 
Whenever I discover a tick that is latched onto my skin, I silently withdraw my Suppressor Ordinanza G.I.S from it's stealth tactical sheath in the small of my back and promptly administer repeated thrusts into the tick's tiny abdomen until it is so full of puncture wounds that it resembles a pin cushion made of Swiss Cheese sprinkled with Holy Water. Either the tick dies from being so Holy, of the host appendage falls off. Either way, the tick wouldn't be a problem anymore.


All joking aside, this is what I normally do when I discover a tick. Here are the steps.

1: I usually pinch the offending tick(s) between my index finger and the thumb on the same hand.

2: After asserting that I have a medium-firm to firm grip on the offending tick(s) abdomen and head, I retract the hand that is grasping the offending tick(s) in a rearward direction thus applying force in a direction opposite of that in which the skin of the surrounding area is in alignment with. That is to say, that I pull the offending tick away or in other words, perpendicular from the skin surround that in which the offending tick(s) thus forth resides.

3: After applying an outward force of approximately 12-15 pounds, the offending tick(s) will usually dislodge.

(Note: I would not try to dislodge the offending tick(s) if the force required to dislodge said tick(s) exceeded 15 pounds of force.)

If that is the case, I would advise you to see a professional medical assistant or doctor.
 
On my dogs, I use a device called a TICK TWISTER. Works REALLY well.

Where I am, almost all ticks are pretty good size. I bought the little 2 pack but if I were doing it over I would just buy the single "nicer" one.

works great!

http://www.ticktwister.com/
 
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gander6 said:
+1 :thumbup: The Ticktwister is an awesome tool.
Click to expand...

And another +1.
Cheap, small, and incredibly effective. I keep a pair in my bag.
They do exactly what it says on the tin. Removes all parts of the tick.
 
Light a match, let it burn for 2 seconds, blow it out, touch the burnt out match to the tick or just in front of the tick. Tick backs out and you can then remove it.
 
jeff_c said:
On my dogs, I use a device called a TICK TWISTER. Works REALLY well.

Where I am, almost all ticks are pretty good size. I bought the little 2 pack but if I were doing it over I would just buy the single "nicer" one.

works great!

http://www.ticktwister.com/
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbup: for the tick twister. I have one in each of my packs.
Tweezers only squeeze the poison from the tick into you.
 
You can smear a dab of vaseline on it - it will back out or suffocate.

I usually just pull/twist it out myself, though.

I've found the longer I'm in the field, the less mosquitoes and ticks bother me... I don't use deodorant in the field - it clogs the pores - just water and a washcloth or baby wipes for the private areas.
 
I use a hot match..... last Novemeber I had a tick in my upper thigh and I just twisted the little guy out with my hand ... til this day that spot ...has a slight scar from me scratching the area that itched like crazy and would go numb...still feels funky
 
I usually carry some Uncle Bill's Sliver Grippers, but ticks don't seem to like me much. I should feel lucky, but to be honest I'm a bit offended. Guess I must taste bad :(
 
This topic is near and dear to my heart..

WHATEVER YOU DO..

DO NOT TRY AND LIGHT A MATCH OR USE VASELINE TO REMOVE A TICK!!!

As a defense mechanism the Tick will spit their juices into you and you can contract lyme diesase or worse yet Ehrlichiosis..

I know because I almost died from Ehrlichiosis.. This is a NASTY thing to contract and left untreated you will die.. I tried the OLD BURN THE TICK OUT.. and 3 miserable days later I was in the hospital.. Google Ehrlichiosis and you will see for yourself..

Tick twister is a great tool and I carry one in may pack and have one at home..
 
:thumbup: Agreed. We work outdoors with dogs in tracking and protection work as well as occasionally breeding them. This is something that we always pass on to our clients. Don't use heat. A straight pull with tweezers or a tick removal tool is the safest way to get all of them out no matter who they're stuck in.

harleyguy02 said:
This topic is near and dear to my heart..

WHATEVER YOU DO..

DO NOT TRY AND LIGHT A MATCH OR USE VASELINE TO REMOVE A TICK!!!

As a defense mechanism the Tick will spit their juices into you and you can contract lyme diesase or worse yet Ehrlichiosis..

I know because I almost died from Ehrlichiosis.. This is a NASTY thing to contract and left untreated you will die.. I tried the OLD BURN THE TICK OUT.. and 3 miserable days later I was in the hospital.. Google Ehrlichiosis and you will see for yourself..

Tick twister is a great tool and I carry one in may pack and have one at home..
Click to expand...
 
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