How to protect your child from ticks in nature

What is the threat of a tick bite?

Despite acaricidal treatments in most of the forest park zones, there are still places in the capital where such treatment is prohibited. Moscow 24 was told about this in the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the city of Moscow.

Specially protected natural areas, in accordance with environmental legislation, cannot be treated with chemicals against ticks, because as a result, species from the Red Data Book may suffer. For prophylaxis in natural areas, only mowing of grass along paths, sports and playgrounds should be carried out. press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the city of Moscow

Photo: Moscow 24

Head of the Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses at the Federal Scientific Center for the Development and Research of Immunobiological Preparations named after MP Chumakov RAS ”Galina Karganova believes that it is not the ticks themselves that scare us, but the pathogens that they carry. “There is a real risk of contracting borreliosis in Moscow parks. Unlike tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis is treated with antibiotics. But, if it is not treated, chronic forms can occur. They are very unpleasant, because the result is pain in the joints, damage to the heart, eyes, and so on, ”Karganova said.

If a person suspects that a tick could have crawled on him while walking in the park, and observes symptoms such as fever, malaise, swollen lymph nodes, the appearance of red spots at the site of suction or on the whole body, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. an infectious disease specialist and take a course of antibiotics.
Galina Karganova
Head of the Laboratory of Biology of Arboviruses, Federal Scientific Center for the Development and Research of Immunobiological Preparations named after M. P. Chumakov RAS "

Karganova also warned of the danger of contracting tick-borne encephalitis when drinking unboiled milk from infected animals (cow and especially goat) and recommended not to buy milk from strangers. “Having bought milk in an unchecked place, you can contract encephalitis without even knowing it,” the specialist emphasized.

Photo: depositphotos / andrei310

How to properly protect yourself from ticks in nature

How to get the tick correctly with tweezers

When planning a trip in the summer
to the forest, to the lake, to the village, if you are going for a walk in the forested area, you should
make sure that all measures are taken to protect against ticks. First of all, it is necessary
Bring repellents and tick removers with you. it
there may be ordinary tweezers.

Safe
clothes

The right clothes for the forest

How to protect yourself from ticks in nature. The main protective factor for people will be their clothes. The cut of clothing should be such that there are no too exposed parts of the body. Shirts and dresses should have long sleeves, tight or zippered cuffs. The collars should be upright, tight-fitting. The set of clothes should include long trousers with an elastic band along the bottom edge of the legs. Be sure to have a headgear covering the neck area, closed shoes, thick socks.

Rules: how to dress for nature

Simple
folk remedies

Before the trip, clothes and the body of a person are treated with protective drugs that can destroy or scare away ticks. An important element of such products is the smell from the substances that make up their composition. Almost all folk remedies for ticks are made on the basis of alcohol or vinegar with the addition of either birch tar, or vanillin, or some essential oils and pungent-smelling plants. Liquid formulations are prepared, which are then applied to the body and clothing using sprays.

Essential oils and vinegar repel insects

Garlic mite spray

Garlic spray is prepared from 100
gram of alcohol-containing liquid and 5-7 cloves of peeled garlic. Garlic
grated or chopped with a blender. Gruel is combined with vodka or
alcohol. The composition is allowed to brew for 12 hours. The mixture is filtered
thoroughly filtered. Apply to clothing with a spray bottle.

Vodka with vanilla for ticks

A similar remedy is obtained with
mixing vanilla powder with vodka. For 150 g of liquid, take 3 g of vanillin.
The mixture is kept in a cold dark place for a week. This remedy can
apply not only to clothing, but also to open areas of the body. Before using
you need to make sure that the people who plan to use it do not
allergies to the smell of vanilla.

Tick ​​repellent essential oils

To ready-made body care gels
you can add essential oils, the smell of which repels ticks. To such ethereal
oils include geranium, mint, eucalyptus, lavender. The composition of the tool
may include 50 g of aloe vera gel, 10 drops of geranium and lavender oil,
150 g of vegetable oil. The mixture is shaken well and used for application
on the skin of the face, hands and other areas of the body.

The oils in any cream can be easily rubbed into the baby's skin

Balsam aroma "Zvezdochka"
always distinguished by brightness and strength. A few drops of balm are added to 10 ml
liquid soap, mixed with 50 ml of apple cider vinegar and 200 ml of cold boiled
water. All components are thoroughly mixed and used for application to the body.
Clove-scented cologne and
a few drops of a pharmacy tincture of valerian root.

Medicines for ticks

Ready-made industrial products
from ticks, according to the mode of action, they are divided into 3 types: those that simply
repel insects - repellents, those that kill them - acaricides, and those that
which scare them away and completely paralyze ticks - universal. All of them
are used only for application to clothing. Before traveling to places where they can
mites are present, it is necessary to check the effect of the smells of these products on
person and make sure that there is no individual intolerance.

Aerosols from ticks "Picnic BIO Active", "Picnic Extreme", "Taiga," OFF Extreme "are popular. Long-term protection against ticks, midges and mosquitoes UltraThon lotion with applicator. It is applied to the skin. This tool was developed in the USA.

How to remove a tick correctly?

If, despite all the precautions, you are still bitten, then remove the tick as quickly and accurately as possible. This will not save you from encephalitis, since the virus is contained in saliva. But from borreliosis it may well: bacteria are in the stomach of the tick and do not immediately enter the blood

If you often go to the forest, then buy a special extraction device, which is sold in pharmacies. Bring with you a couple of jars where you can place the insect. If there is no device, then pull it out with your fingers (but then disinfect your hands).

You need to grab the tick as close to the proboscis as possible, but do not squeeze the body so as not to squeeze the borrelia into the wound. You need to pull it slightly. If not pulled out, twist in any direction so that the antennae on the proboscis pressed against the sting and emerged from the flesh. A couple of turns will be enough. Then remove the insect.

If you tore a tick from the trunk and it remains in the wound, act by analogy with a splinter. After removing the tick, treat the wound with disinfectants: iodine, brilliant green.

By the way, it is not worth smearing the tick with oil. He himself will not crawl out, but simply die in agony, releasing bacteria from his stomach into the wound before death. And it is better not to treat the wound with alcohol either.

The tick must not be thrown away! You need to put it in a special jar and take it to the laboratory (more on this below)

Total: it is better to take a small first-aid kit with you to the forest

• Tick ​​repellent
• Tick ​​Remover
• Small jar
• Iodine or brilliant green

It takes up little space, and a trip to the forest becomes many times safer.

Folk remedies for animals

Pets are equally vulnerable to tick attacks. In thick wool, it is difficult to find a pest that can jump onto a person. In fact, every method that is used for prophylactic purposes in relation to a person is also suitable for an animal. Vinegar-based pet products are not recommended as they will lick their own fur.

Vanilla tincture

It is necessary to combine 100 g of alcohol or high-quality vodka with 2 g of vanillin. The remedy is infused for 7 days in a closed vessel. Before going outside, the product is rubbed into the abdomen, paws and withers of the pet.

Vanilla for preventive purposes from pest bites is sometimes used in its natural form - the animal should be sprinkled with powder on all sides, rubbing it into the wool. Protection will last until bathing.

Scent collar

In addition, it is possible to secure the animal with a scent collar. The product used directly for walking on the street is required to be smeared with tea tree oil. It is not recommended to wear such a collar all the time.

Garlic cologne

A similar method is useful for pets who walk in the country. You will need the following components:

• peeled large clove of garlic (or 3 small ones);
• water - 2 l.

The remedy is being prepared:

1. The head of garlic is grated (you can use a garlic to chop it).
2. A similar mass is added to water and infused in a dark and dry place for at least 8 hours.
3. Then the solution is filtered, 2 liters of water are added.

The agent in question can be used to lubricate the collar or pet's hair (only in inaccessible areas where he cannot reach it himself, for example, on the back or at the withers) and spray the summer cottage.

Onions can be considered an alternative to garlic, the action will be similar.

Pyrethrum spray

Feverfew is a pest control powder popular for its natural ingredients. It is not toxic to animals. Its high efficiency against ticks is noted. In the process of preparation, no chemicals are used, the composition is fully created from components of natural origin.

To prepare the mixture, you will need 6 tbsp. l. dilute the product in 1 liter of water. The insecticide can also be used as a powder. For example, when ticks enter the tent through the entrance, it is possible to pour powder near it.

Feverfew is a contact insecticide. After the penetration of the active ingredient onto the mite shell, it will enter the body, provoking deviations:

• the functioning of all internal organs will be disrupted (the action is due to impaired transmission of impulses);
• paralysis will come, the remedy will deprive the pests of the ability to move.

In view of this, the number of adult insects will significantly decrease, and the surviving individuals will lose their reproductive function.

Wormwood infusion

To prepare the tool in question, you will need:

1. Pour 50 g of wormwood leaves with 0.4 liters of water, boil and then cool.
2. Filter. Pour into a container with a spray bottle.
3. Spray the animal if necessary.

There are a number of requirements for natural remedies that are aimed at preventing tick bites in pets. When creating them, it is forbidden to use alcohol, cologne and vinegar.

The use of modern protective equipment will make it possible to prevent the attack of ticks. By their own action, they include substances that are poisonous for pests or scare them away (sometimes both actions are used at once). Now there is a large selection of chemical preparations for ticks, which have different uses and different costs.

The vaccinated bite is not afraid

There is only one way to develop strong immunity against tick-borne encephalitis - to be vaccinated against this infection.You can get vaccinated free of charge at any state clinic at the place of registration. They use only effective well-proven domestic vaccines - "Tick E-Vac" for children and "EnceVir" for adults. So, this year, almost 4 thousand people have already taken root in Moscow, and about a thousand in the Moscow region. In 2018, 33.7 thousand and 9.5 thousand residents were vaccinated, respectively.

Rospotrebnadzor gave Russians advice on the prevention of tick bites

As told to "RG" in the press service of the Moscow Department of Health, the standard vaccination against tick-borne viral encephalitis consists of three preventive vaccinations.

The interval between the first and the second is at least one month, and a year must pass between the second and the third. To further maintain immunity, it is necessary to carry out a single revaccination every three years. This vaccination protects 95% of vaccinated people. But even in the case of a disease in vaccinated, the disease proceeds with less consequences.

Both adults and children (over 1 year old) can be vaccinated without any restrictions all year round. Specialists from the department recommend planning vaccination in such a way that at least two weeks pass from the moment of the second vaccination before leaving for the endemic territory. During this time, protective immunity should have time to form. And since May and June are considered the most dangerous months, those who, for example, are going to the Vologda region, should get vaccinated right now. But you just need to remember about contraindications - these include acute infectious and non-infectious diseases, as well as chronic diseases in the acute stage (for example, bronchial asthma). Vaccination should be done no earlier than a month after recovery.

How to protect yourself from ticks in the forest, on a hike

And here I want to tell a lot, but the toga will be boring to read, so we will be brief.

First you need to understand that mites are active from the moment the soil warms up to +5 degrees and higher. In the first months, they are especially active, towards the end of summer, the activity decreases and then, with the onset of cold weather, these pests burrow into the soil.

Also, you need to understand that they do not fly or jump. Moreover, they are not on the lower branches of the trees. The only way to get on a person or animal is to hook. They do this from the grass, sit on a blade of grass and raise their front legs. As soon as they catch on, they begin to crawl upward in search of an open area of ​​the skin, and preferably where the skin is thin.

The tick will not bite right away, especially through clothing. He can still crawl over the open area until he finds a suitable place for a bite. In general, this is the most important thing to know.

I also noticed that if you walk in a group through the forest and one after another, then on the very first person there are always the most of these blood-sucking people, but on the last one (if there are more than 4 people), there may not be a single one at all.

And once in general, in the month of April, I was driving from one city to another. I was impatient to go to the toilet, saw the exit from the road, turned it there. I drove off just a few meters from the road, around trees and bushes. I walked away from the car a little bit and did not even come up to the grass. I did the job, got into the car and drove on.

After more than 1 hour, I was already driving through the city, when I felt that it tickled in my beard. As usual he took it, scratched it, looked at his fingers, and there was a tick ... He threw it aside in the passenger seat (fortunately, he was driving alone). Then he drove like ... In general, and so you can even catch this pest in this way.

Here's how to minimally protect yourself from danger:

• Tightly closed shoes.
• Wear light, bright clothing. It's easier to see insects this way.
• Pants with cuffs, or tuck them into socks.
• A thick jacket with sleeves, or a jacket that fastens with a zipper. It is better not to choose outerwear with buttons, as the tick can crawl into these holes.
• On the sleeves, it is desirable to have tight cuffs.
• We also close the neck tightly with a high collar or tie a scarf.
• Be sure to wear a hat, preferably a hat.
• It is best to wear special tight clothing for long stays in the forest. Everything is closed as much as possible and the fabric itself is treated with special acaricidal agents.

We also note that the tick crawls into very dense holes. He seems to turn into a piece of paper and, an infection, crawls everywhere. So if you feel that something is tickling under your clothes, it is better to look around. At the same time, the bite itself cannot be felt. They produce a special substance, so no pain is felt.

• Avoid, if possible, tall grasses and bushes.
• We use special substances against pests (acaricidal, repellent or combined) or we lubricate our feet especially well. But they don't protect 100%.
• We periodically inspect our clothes and those around us.
• When we came out of the forest, be sure to look around completely, under clothes is also desirable.
• We also inspect the hair carefully, you can comb it with a comb with small teeth.

Among other things, I recommend that you insure yourself against a tick bite. The cost is not great, but you are definitely guaranteed to get treatment. And if you find a bite right away, then on time.

About repellents. Quite a lot of products are sold in stores. To be honest, their effectiveness is not very good. At least, how many different things have not tried - literally enough for a short period of time. If you went not far into the forest and a little bit, then maybe it will do.

Let's take a closer look at the means of protection.

8.

Pulled out a tick - did half the battle
If you are sure that the pulled out tick has a full set of limbs - a head and an odd number of legs (a tick sting is indistinguishable from a foot), then place it in a box and take it for analysis to the SES, where it is examined for transmitted diseases. Go for an injection yourself, which will need to be done in any case, and then a series of tests will follow a month long: after 10 days for infections, after another 14 days for immunoglobulins M for encephalitis, and a week later for immunoglobulins M for borreliosis. We agree that all this is long and dreary, but if you do not want to replenish the sad statistics, then you will have to do just that.

Useful
May 30, 2017
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How to protect yourself from ticks

Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from being bitten by this harmful insect.

If this is your first time at the dacha this season, the first step is to get rid of all the tall grass - ticks live in it most often.
Be sure to treat the skin and surface of clothing with repellents - special substances that repel ticks and other insects. They are also effective against mosquitoes. They can be sold in the form of creams, but sprays are the most convenient to use.
Repellents are water soluble, so reapply to your skin after bathing. The same should be done after being exposed to rain.
Be sure to pay attention to the packaging - for how long the product is valid. After the specified time has elapsed, repeat the application.
Blood-sucking insects do not like the pungent smells of cinnamon, camphor, cloves
You can make a strong decoction with these spices and spray them on your clothes with a spray bottle. If you don't have time for such events, just put a handful of spices in your outerwear pocket. They are afraid of ticks and the pungent smell of the "Zvezdochka" balm. It contains a lot of essential oils that repel insects. You can apply the balm to some areas of the skin - behind the ears, on the wrist, in the neck and ankles.
It often happens that ticks, not finding another open area on the skin, bite the neck, ears, face. In this case, you need to make a special mask. Boil a piece of cheesecloth in cinnamon or simply drizzle with cologne. Tie cheesecloth over your face and the ticks won't come close to you.
If you are going to camp outdoors, choose an open area with no tall grass or bushes nearby. It is better to choose an edge or an elevation away from trees. If possible, stay in coniferous forests. The special smell of resin drives away ticks, in such places they are practically absent. In addition, the smell of pine needles is very beneficial for the body.
After you have camped, surround the area with tansy, wormwood, or other pungent-smelling grass. Blooming bird cherry is also suitable.
When walking in the forest, try to walk in the middle of the path, do not climb into bushes and tall grass. Most often, the tick sits on clothes if you pick rose hips and berries from tall bushes.

I would also like to say about pets. If you go out into nature, the dog will probably begin to explore everything around. To protect it from insects, spray it with mite spray.

If you live in a dacha, check your pet regularly to protect your pet from ticks.
When returning home from outdoor recreation, it is very important not to bring ticks to your apartment. This is very dangerous, especially if you have small children.

Often, a tick enters a city apartment with wildflowers or brooms that you collected for a bath.
When you come home, undress and examine yourself completely. Especially in places with thin and delicate skin. Comb the hair thoroughly with a fine-toothed comb. Shake the clothes well and wash them at 90 degrees. If you find a tick, do not crush it with your hands - the infected blood of an insect can enter your body even through a small wound. Press down on the insect with something hard, as regular cotton may not be enough - ticks have a thick shell.
If you often go to nature or your work involves being in hazardous areas, it makes sense to get vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. The vaccination is done in three stages and protects the person completely.

These simple tips and rules will help you make your vacation easy and worry-free.

clothing

When going on holiday, it is first of all important to take care of having proper clothing. And it doesn't matter where exactly you are heading, to the forest, to the nearest park or to the dacha - ticks can be found absolutely anywhere where there is at least some kind of vegetation

And so that the bloodsucker does not suck, it is necessary to close the whole body. Moreover, it should be closed correctly, but this can be done knowing the structural features of the tick, because of which it can only crawl up.

For the upper body, something with a long sleeve. This can be a shirt, jacket, raglan, etc. In this case, it is desirable that the collar covers the neck.
For the lower part of the body, be sure to wear pants. It is better to refrain from wearing shorts.
The trousers should be tucked into the socks, and the top of the garment should be tucked into the bottom

For added protection, you can tighten the belt around your waist.
In this case, it is important that all clothing is made of dense materials. As for its tones, light ones are preferable, since it is quite easy to notice on such mites.

On sale today you can find special costumes called anti-encephalitis, popularly called encephalitis. They are made from strong, dense fabrics and come with drawstrings that provide extra protection against ticks. But if you do not like such a suit, then it is not at all necessary to purchase it. It is quite possible to limit yourself to your everyday clothes, but only all of it needs to be tucked in!

What to do if a sucked tick is found?

If the protection against ticks failed, and the parasite still managed to adhere, then it must be removed as carefully as possible so as not to leave neither its proboscis nor other parts of the body in the skin. In order to remove the bloodsucker, you can use a regular thread

We tie it around the body of the tick, tighten it tightly and slowly pull it.
You can also use a special tool - a pincer.We bring its forked part under the tick's head and carefully, scrolling, we get the parasite.

After the tick has been removed, the bite site must be disinfected, for example, with iodine or at least hydrogen peroxide, and then see a doctor. It is advisable to put the culprit of the above measures in some hermetically sealed container and save it in order to send it for laboratory research later. After all, it is quite possible that this small creature is a carrier of dangerous diseases.