1. Tick Talk Lorraine Chalmers RN
Objective: Following this presentation, you should have a better knowledge about :
What ticks are.
How to identify them
What threat the pose to us
How to prevent a tick bite.
Where they live and how we are exposed
What do we do if you find an attached tick.

2. Understanding Ticks and their behaviour
Member of the spider family (8 legged)
Over 9 types of ticks in North America
Ticks can carry disease which is transmitted to humans when they bite
Each type of tick may carries specific and different disease
Blacklegged Deer Tick can carry Lyme Disease and is prevalent in Ontario
Blood sucking / feed off living bodies (animals and humans)
Cannot jump or fly. They travel by hitchhiking and crawling
They are found in brush , long grasses or leaves where deer and animals are found

3. Life cycles
In general, adult ticks are approximately the size of a sesame seed and nymph ticks are approximately the size of a poppy seed
Larva (usually spring)
Nymph (summer)
Adult ,male and female (fall)
Ticks feed on blood during all life cycles

4. Adult and Nymph tick

5. Feeding Female ticks and nymphs are the hungriest as they require more nutrients to grow and reproduce. Tick mouthparts have small barbs which secures them inside the host. Ticks secrete a mild anesthetic in their saliva which prevents the host from feeling the bite.

6. Left to Right: (same female tick during feeding) un-engorged , 1/4 engorged, 1/2 engorged and fully engorged to about the size of a corn kernel A tick can feed for up to 7 days before it is satisfied and then falls off. If you try to remove a tick by grabbing it by its body while it is feeding, it may get distressed and vomit into you.
Ticks are blood sucking vectors, like mosquitoes
They secrete a mild anesthetic within their saliva* which prevents the host from feeling the bite
A tick only imbeds its mouthparts into the host and will remain attached until it completes its feed ( up to 7 days) after which it falls off
Its mouthpart has small barbs which secure it to the host
*Ticks (like mosquitoes) MAY carry disease but not all DO
if the tick gets distressed, it vomits
(See body map)

7. Tick Feeding Zones
It usually takes a tick about 2 hours to travel up your body and locate a spot to feed from
Ticks like to feed in areas where they can easily draw blood; places where they can hide and remain undisturbed

8. The Feeding Zones For TICKS!!!
Scalp
Behind Your Ears
Arm Pits
Belly Button
Behind Knees
Groin

9. Tick Bite Prevention You can only get a tick born illness if you are bitten by a disease carrying tick
Watch where you walk, Stay on the path and avoid tall grasses and brush
Use DEET
Wear clothing that is light coloured so you can see a tick if it lands on you
Keep your body covered by wearing a hat or scarf that covers your ears, long sleeve tops, pants tucked into your socks, full shoes
Stay away from loose brush or long grasses
Keep on the walkways and walk in the centre if possible single file if needed esp if looking for firewood
Wear white or light colours so you can see the ticks
Wear long pants and tuck into socks and long sleeves
Wear hats or scarves that cover your ears
Use DEET as a bug repellant
Shower within 2 hrs if possible after exposure to a tick habitat
Check your body in the shower or before you go to bed
Use a hand held mirror.

10. Tick Bite Prevention cont.
Check your clothing for ticks after exposure to possible tick areas
if you discover a tick remove it Bag it and place clothes in hot dryer for 1hr
Shower within 2 hours of being in risk areas
Body check using a hand held mirror
Use the Buddy system when coming in from a possible tick area by checking each others backs, head etc

11. As of 2015 but spreading
Note high risk area around the Great Lakes
Ticks are mobile as they move with their hosts / animals they are feeding off
Lyme disease is predominantly carried by the black legged deer tick so any area where deer are present can be a potential Lyme area

12. What to do if you find a tick?
Do not try to pull it off with your hands
Do not twist the tick, burn it off or cover it with Vaseline or oil
Only remove it using “Tick Key” or pointed Tweezers (next 2 slides)

13. How to use the “Tick Key” video Click on black area or https://www

14. Tick Removal Steps How to remove a tick
1) Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
2) Pull upward with steady, even pressure. ...
3) After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.

15. Tick removal cont
Try to remember when you may have gotten the tick or been in a tick area.
Save the tick in a zip lock bag and take it to the local Health Department for identification of tick type, life stage, state of engorgement, or virus
See your doctor for advise and monitoring for Lyme disease symptoms

16. Lyme disease symptoms
similar to influenza (may present 2-6 weeks after bite)
Fever
Headache
Muscle Ache
Nausea
Vomiting
Sometimes Erythema or “bull ring” (see slide)
May progress to neurological symptoms
Fever
Headache
Muscle Ache
Nausea
Vomiting
Sometimes Erythema
Lyme disease may also show a “bulls-eye” like rash a few days after at the site of the bite

17. Bulls eye ring

18. Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics
Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics. See your doctor if you have symptoms Remember Prevention is the Key

19. References and Resources