EXCELLENT advice! I’m a microbiologist that used to study Lyme disease. When we would collect ticks in the wild we’d tuck our pants into our socks and use masking tape to secure them. We’d also tape over any grommet holes on our boots. Also, lots of times the bullseye rash won’t appear at all or might be a different shape. If you get bitten by a tick use tweezers or your fingernails to get the mouth out and try not to squish the tick body too hard when you’re removing it or you’ll push the stomach contents and any microbes into the wound. Also not a bad idea to put the tick in a plastic bag and have it tested later.
My mom would remove ticks by putting some lotion on and around them and then swirl around with the ear cleaning thingy until it let go. Do you think this method is safe OP?
DO NOT FORGET to check you scalp, especially those with longer hair! Ticks can and will nestle in there. My family and I had visited our own in Oklahoma many years ago, and a month or so later my Mom was sitting in the salon chair when her stylist pulled a HUGE tick that had clearly hitched a ride back to Cali with us. She was extremely lucky she did not get sick or some other kind of disease.
Yeah i scratched my neck once and felt a small bulge, i thought it might have been some dried blood from the day before but when i removed it i was shocked to see it was in fact a tick
I'm from that sorta area and if that tick went for a month before it was found all y'all are real lucky she didnt catch lymes disease or rocky mountain fever or somethin. Glad it turned out well
Im the opposite, i dont mind bugs at all but my allergies are TERRIBLE. Ever since I turned 20 theyve been bad, 6 years later i still take medicine everyday and my nasal spray.
I’m glad you guys takes ticks so seriously! I got a tick when I was 8 years old and had all the symptoms of Lyme I got tested once after my mom had to beg the doctors for it and it came out negative (it was a false negative) mom wanted then to test again but doctors refused to test me, I continued to get symptoms for years, I’m now 16 years old and we finally found a doctor who would test me a few months ago, it came back positive and I have now spent the last 8 years with Lyme and am now suffering because doctors refused to test.
Our Daughter (17 now) had a very similar experience. Negative Lymes test, told she was “fine” however she was SICK for years. We received a positive test through a credible lab. We then opted for Natural Medicine in Clearwater FL (Life Works Wellness Center. Amazing, BTW) Finally, we have our Daughter with her sparkle back!
These are the exact type of videos that make me realize that as much as I’d like to think I could do it, I can’t actually spend that much time in the wilderness. Hats off to you both, living the good life for sure! Thanks for sharing.
Please use a thread loop or long pincered tweezers when removing tics! Removing tics with your fingers or ordinary tweezers will likely put pressure on the tics abdomen causing the tic to throw up the blood back into your body. That is how the disease is spread. Also if you leave the tic it will feed until it’s so full that it throws up and then it will let go. So always make sure to remove tics as soon as possible! As said in the video monitor the area for up to 4 weeks after the bite and seek medical attention should a rash appear!
@@stonefruitlover HAHAH right?? my bf & i enjoy spending time in nature & mushroom “watching” as a love language type thing but, ticks definitely deter us from doing it as much as we’d like lmao
Actually it's safer to leave the tick attached and get it removed by a medical professional than to remove it yourself. The disease is mostly caused by the tick's head breaking off while you're trying to remove it and staying stuck in your skin
Perfect! Medical entomologist here, thank you for sharing solid and accurate information. Especially permethrin. Permethrin is how I stayed tick free when studying Powassan virus. Also, get some forceps into your kit! Get in touch if you want a tick protection kit.
Grew up in the country. Have never known a time when we didn’t do tic checks, on ourselves and our dogs, normal as breathing. You guys are just the best. I’m inspired to hike, thanks to you. Thank you for the wonderful videos.
My husband is the same way. He’ll nonchalantly be like, ‘Watch for ticks. They like to hide around here.’ You might as well tell me it’s rattlesnake territory while yawning.
Note that about 20-30% DON’T develop a bulleye. My husband’s actually just looked like a giant, dark bruise on his leg. If you happen to miss an imbedded tick - watch for symptoms (muscle aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes) and visit your doctor ASAP to get tested. You might need to push for the test (even in places where it’s endemic) because some doctors are reallllly not proactive about it. We lived in Bucks County, PA (very well known for ticks and Lyme) and my husband had to practically beg for the test. Problem was that it was still too early for it to show up but he pushed to get another test (thankfully with a different, younger and more proactive doctor)… get a call the NEXT morning at 8am and doc says “you are 100% positive” 😱 One round of antibiotics and he was fine. ONE YEAR later.. we’d been in an area with ticks and he checked himself but must have missed it. A few days go by, NO rash but his lymph node swole the same way as the first time and he immediately knew. Another round of antibiotics again. Moral of the story? Take note of your body and speak up when something’s clearly wrong!
Yes push for the test. My sons pediatrician thought he must have suddenly gotten rheumatoid arthritis, with no evidence. Yes, after his diagnosis I switched doctors to someone who actually listens
You are right. Even in places with a lot of ticks, doctors misdiagnose lyme disease. (Europe) So be aware and know the symptoms. But dont worry, if you just catched it, a week of really strong antibiotics will solve it.
i'm too squeamish to pull them out so if you have the luxury, very pungent scents (essential oils, fragrant perfumes, even deodorant in a pinch) dabbed on their back ends will cause them to let go. they breathe out of their back ends so it essentially suffocates them. you can also use a freshly blown out match, the charcoal does the same thing :)
@@andrea_christinethis is 100% not true. It takes days for ticks to suffocate (even completely submerged in water) and putting any substance on them to make them dislodge actually makes them vomit into your body. Pulling them off with tweezers etc is the ONLY way to safely remove a tick
@@lauralanthalasa7yeah unfortunately any one tick can carry multiple diseases, in the same way one can carry Lyme. That's why some other comments are saying to save any tick you pull from your skin, that way you can check for exactly which diseases your tick carries
As someone who was diagnosed with lymes disease in 4th grade and still have to go on antibiotics every once in a while, thanks for being smarter then me.
it’s honestly really helpful to own a tick card or a ticks tweezer! when i work in the garden i get ticks everytime! I couldn’t imagine not having these small and useful tools with me when going on a hike
Great info. It was so difficult to convince my various hiking partners to do tic checks over the years. On our first hike together, I showed my future wife 3 tics on the grass, and 2 crawling up her pants. She immediately asked for a tic check, so I knew she was going to be a winner. (45 years ago)
as someone who has chronic lyme, this is all INCREDIBLY important. the bullseye rashes are SO important to look for. also make sure that when you pull the tick out, you get the entire thing and not just the body as the head can stay buried. also ticks are super hard to kill but dont flush them down the toilet!! if you can, save them in a plastic bag so you can send it in for testing if you start to develop symptoms of lyme disease
Ticks aren’t actually hard to kill as long as you either crush their head with your fingers then pull their body apart (gross I know) or cut them to pieces with a knife or you can crush them in-between rocks or pieces of wood.
@@harvestheverest it's a bacterial infection you can pick up from ticks. In some cases it can leave you effectively disabled for years afterwards. Don't get Lyme disease and if you do, get it diagnosed and treated right away.
I have chronic Lyme disease and some co-infections which has led to debilitating symptoms in my life, especially after getting Covid. It brought my Lyme back to the surface and I’ve been miserable for over the past 2 years! 😣 On a waiting list for a magnetic Lyme treatment, which will take probably 30 or more treatments. I eat all organic now, make all my own hygiene and cleaning products and use meditation and mindful techniques to help ease symptoms. Detox baths and dry brushing helps too. I never got a bullseye. The majority of people don’t and never remember being bitten by a tick.
@@harvestheverestYou need to read up on it. A LOT has been written. Don't just rely on your doctor. Many are ill educated on the subject. Arthritis, neurological, slowly developing symptoms. You don't want it. I lost 7-1/2 years of my peak productive life. Damaged proprioreception, arithmetic ability that never returned, too much to address. Read.
I never thought that I'd have a favorite hiking team but here we are. You guys are awesome. I'm definitely going to pick up a copy of your book. I hope to see you on the trail some day!
Thank you for spreading awareness and more info about ticks. I live in Western PA and they’re a problem around here. Pretty much everyone in my family has had a tick bite. Got my first one of the season last week.
In some countries they even have vaccines against some diseases spread by ticks, for example one against encephalitis (brain inflammation, very unfun). There also seem to be some in development against Lyme disease. These vaccines are in phase 3 of testing (human trials) so if they get approval and such, they’ll be made more widely available. Even if vaccinated, I’d still avoid ticks, but it’s nice to have another line of defense against serious illnesses.
@@willothewispl there was (edited to add: a Lyme vaccine) once in the 90s but it was pulled from market after certain (rare) adverse events that got a lot of media coverage. this was basically the start of the (modern) anti vax movement. there are new studies happening now but we may still be about 10 years away from it coming to market.
@@willothewispl in Austria I know for sure that they get vaccinated against TBE because I did an exchange there. They wanted us to get the vaccines, but there wasn't enough time to because you have to get multiple shots spread out over a period of time, otherwise we definitely would have done it. As for Lyme, it's a case of not YET as far as I can tell. On the CDC site they said that there was a vaccine but in the early 2000s it got discontinued and the company claimed it was because not enough people wanted it. The CDC also said there were some in the works, the phase 3 I mentioned, BUT the vaccines seem to only be for specific strains.
Never I repeat NEVER!!!! PULL OUT A TICK what you do is slowly squeeze the tip without crushing/ squishing then it'll get lose then and only then you pull it out and don't throw it out put it in a well seeled jar or pill bottle then bring it to the hospital
I think they know this, but since they often spend multiple days outside of civilization and don't have tweezers on hand, getting the tick off in a timely manner is safer than just leaving it there for god knows how long until they get some.
I got Lyme disease a few years ago, after camping got home and showered, thats when i noticed about half a dozen ticks in my hair!!! Tick checks are important people
it’s so important to be careful with lyme disease! i knew a girl who didn’t receive treatment fast enough and she was out of school for months and had long lasting effects.
A worthy thing to carry with you might be a can of freeze spray just in case the head breaks off in the skin! In Australia the protocol is to freeze them right away rather than trying to remove cause they tend to burrow in as soon as you touch them 😬 no hate here good on you for getting it out quick! I absolutely love watching your videos, thanks for sharing your amazing adventures!
Your comment is the only one I have seen to even mention this. This is what I was taught in my first aid course when I was group leading for outdoor ed companies in Victoria
I was diagnosed when I was 11.. fever so bad I couldn't walk.. it is not a fun thing to have.. glad u guys prep so well... Stay safe out there. Ps ur videos made me get out more lol thanks
So I actually have another thing to add, if you use coconut oil the Ticks won’t attach to your body. They will most likely fall off due to the slipping. Me and my family have been using coconut oil for awhile and it works really well.
Several years ago my partner had Lyme disease from a tick. It is no joking matter. Excruciating symptoms (back pain) and facial paralysis. That was with treatment At one point they were developing a vaccine for Lyme but dropped it. There is a vaccine for dogs and I hope they are testing one for people. Great advice. Thank you!
It’s crazy that they still don’t have a human vaccine at this point. Saw some video it was due to fracturing and privatization of the healthcare industry or something.
You should carry peppermint oil. If you pour it on the tick while it is in your skin it will leave by it self. I always do it whit my dog because she always gets them. Hope this helps.❤
This is very good advice! But just so you know, ticks tend to release more infectious liquid if you just pull them out, the head can even stay in and then reconstruct a body, to avoid that I'd advise you to pull gently whilst turning it anti clockwise. Thank you for your videos, the quality and preparation for your trips is very impressive!
I was taught in Scouts to also tuck shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks, plus ensure you put repellent around your waist, ankles and shirt openings. Was pretty effective
One in three people receive a bullseye rash. One in four who have Lyme Disease test positive on a blood test. There are so many co-infections that one can receive from those bugs that it’s hard to pinpoint. I’ve suffered from Chronic Lyme for almost ten years. Those buggers are no joke! Not to mention being a medical hassle as doctors rarely treat it correctly because they are not knowledgable. Plus it’s rarely covered by insurance. Thanks for spreading some awareness!
Don’t forget to check your scalp! Those little bastards are pretty hard to find in your hair, so have your partner check for you and check his hair too.
Tell me about it😭. I have long curly hair and after a day outdoors it's sweaty and tangles easy. Even bees have become very angry at me after getting stuck in my hair😂. I usually have to wear it in a cap and or braided. But yeah, they do love the scalp.
Public health practitioner here! If you find a tick embedded in your skin you need to remove it with tweezers. It's best to carry them with you if you're hiking, but if you're closer to a city definitely wait to remove until you can pick up a pair at a pharmacy. You're lucky no part of the tick was left under the skin but in general, do not use your fingers to remove them if at all possible. Never, EVER use a match or lighter to encourage them to back out. They will often rip off their mouth parts or more in the process. Always make sure the tick is dead before leaving it after it's been removed so it doesn't have the opportunity to bite someone else.
Ticks actually live in the woods more often than in grasslands, in case of wildfire. If a tick was in the middle of a grass field the bug could not escape, if it’s in the tree line and a fire starts, it will climb the tree to escape.
As someone who had Lyme disease that caused grand mal seizures, if you find a tick on yourself take an easy course of antibiotics for a month and you’ll be okay. It’s worth it instead of it turning into something debilitating.
Not all people who get Lyme have the bullseye rash! So don't use that as your only indicator that you've got it. And make sure to carefully remove the tick, not squishing it and not leaving any bits behind.
Take a bottle with you without anything in it. Any ticks you find attached can be put in the dry bottle so the tick can be tested. You can have a bull eye rash without having Lyme disease.
@iandoggett6647 you only save ticks that are attached. Research the disease, look at the life long, life altering symptoms and effects. Such a small action that can keep you from being sick forever.
I had a tick imbed itself into my scalp. I never felt the damn thing... I just want to know why tick bites don't hurt. You literally don't feel them until they have burrowed into your freaking body
Their saliva has evolved to contain natural anticoagulants. As to why it doesn't hurt, consider how drawing blood doesn't hurt once needle is in. My best guess as to why it doesn't generally hurt is that simply having blood leave your body doesn't generally agitate nerves.
I think their saliva has anaesthetic apart from coagulant like mosquitoes do, plus their "tooth" are so sharp and thin that they literally don't trigger any kind of pain. At least that's what I've always heard but I'm not a biologist so idk
We were just at my moms house in Nova Scotia Canada. Lots of ticks there. We checked the kids and the dog every night for them. I found one on the dog. Great advice. Stay safe
I'm sure ppl have already written it here somewhere, but it's better to twist the tick around instead of pulling. If you pull, there is a risk that the neck snaps off because the tick still bites your skin, and the head stays in your skin. When you twist the tick, it releases itself from your skin willingly. I have probably removed about 100 ticks from my dogs, cats and my mom. Consider myself some kind of an expert by now.
@@zb7688 Twisting definetly helps then release their grip. If you have one stuck, then you should get it removed by a nurse because it's probably gonna get infected.
When my brother was still in elementary school a girl actually died from Meningitis that was transmitted by a tick. So it’s super important to check for ticks when finishing a hike!
Don’t just pull it out like that!!! Dish soap works pretty well to get them to detach. Since it does take awhile to establish infection you have time to not screw around with it. Also not a bad idea do go to an urgent care for prophylaxis because it’s a single dose of an antibiotic - why risk it?
NO. Dish soap, alcohol, any chemical really might cause the tick to regurgitate (vomit) into the wound. This will cause infection. Better off removing it as they did by grabbing very firmly at the base/head.
The antibiotic used to treat Lyme is literally the worst for your whole system, you do NOT want to be taking antibiotics like that, and most doctors worth their salt won't prescribe them without good reason.
During my hiking trip at camp, four days and three nights which doesnt evne compare to what you folks are doing which is super inspiring. I found around five ticks on my clothing in one day which was pretty funny to watch the others freak out. But yes always do tick checks!
My specialist i see in Byrdstown Tn, for RMSF and Lymes said it just takes them biting and breaking skin to transfer diseases. Definitely not fun stuff. Be safe! Love your guys videos!
You should carry alcohol wipes. If you hold it against the tick it will pull out and fall off on its own then you don’t have to pull them and risk leaving mouth parts in your skin.
I spent three years working on a trail crew in Idaho and contracted Lymes disease. Three years in I had a full blown case with all the symptoms. It took a full 18 months to get better. It was tough.
I've only had one tick bite in my life. The little guy was so small I couldn't get all of him out and ended up with a huge abscess about a month or so later and that was no fun
You are just not tasy. I have had probably over a hundred but they just like the smell of some people. My dad is one of them. Whenever we go hiking i had to remove like 10 or 20 of those suckers when you catch them crawling on you and maybe a few with the tick check but my dad would literally have to brush off over 50 a day
I moved to rural Kentucky from Seattle about 13 years ago. I've been bitten by at least 20 ticks, but I always get them off fast and I've never had a problem.
I had a tick on me once as a teen. Don’t know how it got there, I found it on my ribs when I was getting dressed in the morning. It wasn’t big so I don’t think it was there long and I didn’t even know what it was so I tried to flick it off me but when that didn’t budge it, I pulled it, absolutely horrified that it had part of its self UNDER my skin. When I told my dad he took me to the doctor and I didn’t know why. Anyways, I was fine. No clue how it got there, I was definitely not a hiker.
@@charlesellison5999 that’s wild. Do you live in the forest? I had no idea people were so scared of them for diseases, I just think it’s gross that they stick their head into your skin.
According to the CDC, a tick typically has to be attached for 36-48 hours before it transmits lyme. Plus, only certain ticks (deer ticks) can carry lyme, and they have to be in a certain stage of life to transmit it. As long as you check your skin every day (or technically even every other day), you should be fine. And if you're concerned it's been longer that, go to the doctor and they'll prescribe antibiotics. :)
If you cover the tick with some Vaseline they'll let go and back up because they can't breathe. That way you don't have to worry about pincers staying in you skin.
As someone who lives in the forest where deer spread way too many ticks each spring etc, consider buying a tick-card!! It's as thin and same shape as your credit-card, fits in your phone case etc and it has a notch that's proven to pull out the tick without severing its limbs or putting pressure on the abdomen Stay safe
You can get a tick out by rotating it clockwise about 10 or 20 times and it just pops out but stopping kinda resets it so constantly spin it till it pops out.
Personally I'd rather continue living in a house with cockroaches, than go outside and deal with ticks. All I need is a bottle of bleach for roaches and I'm good. I don't wanna go on a scavenger hunt for a bug that's on me!
@@BreakKaydenBreak As long as it's liquid bleach. The smaller cockroaches are easiest to kill. While bigger roaches take longer and require being drenched. The way to kill a roach is to get it to consume the bleach. So that's why the bigger the harder to kill, but it's absolutely possible and the best way I've found. Other than the bleach stains, so try not to get it on art or fabrics. Hope this answers your question/curiosity.
@@HalloweenKing10 Do you dilute the solution of bleach? Like a 1:1 Ratio of water and Bleach? Also real quick for anyone who does read this, Bleach can be very dangerous if mixed with other chemicals. Like Bleach and Vinegar, this can create Chlorine gas which can kill you. Also Bleach and acetone etc. Creates Chloroform which again is highly dangerous.
@@butterflytaylor2474 I don't know, bleach just kills them. If they consume it, they die in a few seconds. Otherwise they will just be in agony hurting. I'd love to get pest control, but I don't have the money. So bleach was the next best thing.
So my dad had a tick bite about two years ago. Due to certain meds he takes we were uncomfortable taking it out on our own, so he went to an urgent care/er (this hospital covers both). They took it out for him and even asked if he wanted to get it checked for lime disease and other diseases. We’re from Europe and have pretty decent health insurance that covered the testing (if you treat lime early on you can prevent/ delay most of the bad symptoms). The tick thankfully came back negative. If you’re in this situation I would highly recommend asking and doing this testing. Also if you have animals like dogs, ask your vet about a lime disease vaccine. Where we are there are a couple ones for dogs and that can help with herd immunity and spreading of the disease
@@XandarYT works for me. I have never had ticks, chiggers, scorpions, rattle snakes... if you don't go where ticks can bite you and give you a horrible disease, you are less likely to get bit and get a horrible disease.
Never pull them out, to get them off it's more secure to twist it until the mouth gets fully off. When pulling them, sometimes the head might get stuck deep in the skin. Nice video. 😊
A helpful tip i learned is to wrap double sided tape around the top of your shins, the tics will get stuck on that and you can remove it when you are done hiking, completely tic free
EXCELLENT advice! I’m a microbiologist that used to study Lyme disease. When we would collect ticks in the wild we’d tuck our pants into our socks and use masking tape to secure them. We’d also tape over any grommet holes on our boots. Also, lots of times the bullseye rash won’t appear at all or might be a different shape. If you get bitten by a tick use tweezers or your fingernails to get the mouth out and try not to squish the tick body too hard when you’re removing it or you’ll push the stomach contents and any microbes into the wound. Also not a bad idea to put the tick in a plastic bag and have it tested later.
What are some other key symptoms to watch for other than the rash?
Where does one go to have a tick tested?? Just curious
Following this thread for the questions asked above. I would like to know as well.
My mom would remove ticks by putting some lotion on and around them and then swirl around with the ear cleaning thingy until it let go. Do you think this method is safe OP?
Man it's so cool whenever there's someone who's in depth in particular subject like this. You're awesome
DO NOT FORGET to check you scalp, especially those with longer hair! Ticks can and will nestle in there. My family and I had visited our own in Oklahoma many years ago, and a month or so later my Mom was sitting in the salon chair when her stylist pulled a HUGE tick that had clearly hitched a ride back to Cali with us. She was extremely lucky she did not get sick or some other kind of disease.
Yup i just wrote a comment saying i've trekked through the rainforest but Northeast Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas. deep woods have the worst bugs
Yeah i scratched my neck once and felt a small bulge, i thought it might have been some dried blood from the day before but when i removed it i was shocked to see it was in fact a tick
I'm from that sorta area and if that tick went for a month before it was found all y'all are real lucky she didnt catch lymes disease or rocky mountain fever or somethin. Glad it turned out well
Im over here shuddering. 🤮🤮🤮🤮 I cant imagine having a huge tick in my scalp. Eewww eeww eeww
Ew. How did she not feel a massive tick in her hair for a month? Didn’t she wash her hair?
bugs are the only thing preventing me from leaving my house. no allergies or anything, I just hate them with every bone in my body.
You’re never more than 10 feet from a spider anyway lol, even inside your house. Go out and touch some grass buddy
@@RealBoiJare stfu I will cry.
@@RealBoiJare watch them immediately get a lone star tick bite
Same
Mosquitoes love me. 😢
Im the opposite, i dont mind bugs at all but my allergies are TERRIBLE. Ever since I turned 20 theyve been bad, 6 years later i still take medicine everyday and my nasal spray.
“Tall grass you know what that means!” The wild Pokémon battle music started playing in my head…
*A wild starly appeared*
Snakes!! 😱
In some areas anyway. I'm glad there are only garter snakes where I live. 😵
Lmaoo same
Link gets his sword out.
Danananan anansnana
I’m glad you guys takes ticks so seriously! I got a tick when I was 8 years old and had all the symptoms of Lyme I got tested once after my mom had to beg the doctors for it and it came out negative (it was a false negative) mom wanted then to test again but doctors refused to test me, I continued to get symptoms for years, I’m now 16 years old and we finally found a doctor who would test me a few months ago, it came back positive and I have now spent the last 8 years with Lyme and am now suffering because doctors refused to test.
That's horrible
Sue for malpractice...next
Same happened to my family, find a doctor who will test and treat
Same happened to me.
Our Daughter (17 now) had a very similar experience. Negative Lymes test, told she was “fine” however she was SICK for years. We received a positive test through a credible lab. We then opted for Natural Medicine in Clearwater FL (Life Works Wellness Center. Amazing, BTW)
Finally, we have our Daughter with her sparkle back!
These are the exact type of videos that make me realize that as much as I’d like to think I could do it, I can’t actually spend that much time in the wilderness. Hats off to you both, living the good life for sure! Thanks for sharing.
Please use a thread loop or long pincered tweezers when removing tics! Removing tics with your fingers or ordinary tweezers will likely put pressure on the tics abdomen causing the tic to throw up the blood back into your body. That is how the disease is spread.
Also if you leave the tic it will feed until it’s so full that it throws up and then it will let go. So always make sure to remove tics as soon as possible!
As said in the video monitor the area for up to 4 weeks after the bite and seek medical attention should a rash appear!
@@stonefruitlover HAHAH right?? my bf & i enjoy spending time in nature & mushroom “watching” as a love language type thing but, ticks definitely deter us from doing it as much as we’d like lmao
Wtf... what a nasty nasty species.. not all nature is beautiful. Gluttony
Actually it's safer to leave the tick attached and get it removed by a medical professional than to remove it yourself. The disease is mostly caused by the tick's head breaking off while you're trying to remove it and staying stuck in your skin
Cant you drag a credit card along the skin and pressure force it out? Or is rhat outdated advice?
Not all ticks spread disease and disease will only spread after 24+ hours attached.
Perfect! Medical entomologist here, thank you for sharing solid and accurate information. Especially permethrin. Permethrin is how I stayed tick free when studying Powassan virus. Also, get some forceps into your kit! Get in touch if you want a tick protection kit.
I was walking in tall grass which made me think ticke
I’m afraid of any bugs but butter fly lady bugs and fire flys and grass hoppers
Spiders and ticks noo
I am interested in prevention/protection kit
Grew up in the country. Have never known a time when we didn’t do tic checks, on ourselves and our dogs, normal as breathing. You guys are just the best. I’m inspired to hike, thanks to you. Thank you for the wonderful videos.
Can ticks be eradicated?
I saw all these wonderful hiking shorts and videos and been thinking 'that's nice' and now you remind me how I don't leave my home in the first place.
They’re so chill about it. One of my greatest fears!
My husband is the same way. He’ll nonchalantly be like, ‘Watch for ticks. They like to hide around here.’ You might as well tell me it’s rattlesnake territory while yawning.
Ive had lime disease and still struggle from long term effects from it. Glad you guys are being smarter than i was when i was a kid haha
Note that about 20-30% DON’T develop a bulleye. My husband’s actually just looked like a giant, dark bruise on his leg. If you happen to miss an imbedded tick - watch for symptoms (muscle aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes) and visit your doctor ASAP to get tested.
You might need to push for the test (even in places where it’s endemic) because some doctors are reallllly not proactive about it. We lived in Bucks County, PA (very well known for ticks and Lyme) and my husband had to practically beg for the test. Problem was that it was still too early for it to show up but he pushed to get another test (thankfully with a different, younger and more proactive doctor)… get a call the NEXT morning at 8am and doc says “you are 100% positive” 😱
One round of antibiotics and he was fine. ONE YEAR later.. we’d been in an area with ticks and he checked himself but must have missed it. A few days go by, NO rash but his lymph node swole the same way as the first time and he immediately knew. Another round of antibiotics again.
Moral of the story? Take note of your body and speak up when something’s clearly wrong!
Second moral of the story - push for a second opinion when you aren’t happy with the first one
@@ebl36 YES! always be your own health advocate.
Yes push for the test. My sons pediatrician thought he must have suddenly gotten rheumatoid arthritis, with no evidence. Yes, after his diagnosis I switched doctors to someone who actually listens
Also don't let it rest until you have a negative test. I learned the hard way.
You are right. Even in places with a lot of ticks, doctors misdiagnose lyme disease. (Europe) So be aware and know the symptoms. But dont worry, if you just catched it, a week of really strong antibiotics will solve it.
i'm too squeamish to pull them out so if you have the luxury, very pungent scents (essential oils, fragrant perfumes, even deodorant in a pinch) dabbed on their back ends will cause them to let go. they breathe out of their back ends so it essentially suffocates them. you can also use a freshly blown out match, the charcoal does the same thing :)
this is a cool tip, I will save this, thanks a lot!!
@@andrea_christinethis is 100% not true. It takes days for ticks to suffocate (even completely submerged in water) and putting any substance on them to make them dislodge actually makes them vomit into your body. Pulling them off with tweezers etc is the ONLY way to safely remove a tick
As someone who is disabled from Lyme disease and 3 other tick borne illnesses, I appreciate this video🙂
All from one tick?
@@lauralanthalasa7yeah unfortunately any one tick can carry multiple diseases, in the same way one can carry Lyme. That's why some other comments are saying to save any tick you pull from your skin, that way you can check for exactly which diseases your tick carries
Funny how I never gotten those diseases. 🤔
GodBless you ❤️🙏🏻
@@ms.pirateu got lucky
As someone who was diagnosed with lymes disease in 4th grade and still have to go on antibiotics every once in a while, thanks for being smarter then me.
it’s honestly really helpful to own a tick card or a ticks tweezer! when i work in the garden i get ticks everytime! I couldn’t imagine not having these small and useful tools with me when going on a hike
what kind of biome do you live in? I am in great lakes area and i rarely find them on me.
Great info. It was so difficult to convince my various hiking partners to do tic checks over the years. On our first hike together, I showed my future wife 3 tics on the grass, and 2 crawling up her pants. She immediately asked for a tic check, so I knew she was going to be a winner. (45 years ago)
as someone who has chronic lyme, this is all INCREDIBLY important. the bullseye rashes are SO important to look for. also make sure that when you pull the tick out, you get the entire thing and not just the body as the head can stay buried. also ticks are super hard to kill but dont flush them down the toilet!! if you can, save them in a plastic bag so you can send it in for testing if you start to develop symptoms of lyme disease
Respectfully asking, what's lyme disease and how does it affect your life?
Ticks aren’t actually hard to kill as long as you either crush their head with your fingers then pull their body apart (gross I know) or cut them to pieces with a knife or you can crush them in-between rocks or pieces of wood.
@@harvestheverest it's a bacterial infection you can pick up from ticks. In some cases it can leave you effectively disabled for years afterwards. Don't get Lyme disease and if you do, get it diagnosed and treated right away.
I have chronic Lyme disease and some co-infections which has led to debilitating symptoms in my life, especially after getting Covid. It brought my Lyme back to the surface and I’ve been miserable for over the past 2 years! 😣
On a waiting list for a magnetic Lyme treatment, which will take probably 30 or more treatments. I eat all organic now, make all my own hygiene and cleaning products and use meditation and mindful techniques to help ease symptoms. Detox baths and dry brushing helps too. I never got a bullseye. The majority of people don’t and never remember being bitten by a tick.
@@harvestheverestYou need to read up on it. A LOT has been written. Don't just rely on your doctor. Many are ill educated on the subject.
Arthritis, neurological, slowly developing symptoms. You don't want it. I lost 7-1/2 years of my peak productive life. Damaged proprioreception, arithmetic ability that never returned, too much to address. Read.
I never thought that I'd have a favorite hiking team but here we are. You guys are awesome. I'm definitely going to pick up a copy of your book. I hope to see you on the trail some day!
Thank you for spreading awareness and more info about ticks. I live in Western PA and they’re a problem around here. Pretty much everyone in my family has had a tick bite. Got my first one of the season last week.
I had my first ever tick this summer. And then two more after that! I live in eastern PA. Glad to see more Pennsylvanians in this comment section!
Great
Internet needs more of this in RUclips. I’ve been bit by a tick and suffer the consequences.
Taking tick off by bare hands!😮😮😮
That's some skill!!
It is not hard I do it all the time
It causes the tick to spew your diseased blood back inside you. Bad idea
Well, you got to be a bit careful not to accidentally squeeze the bug in the process and cause it to regurgitate everything back etc
This is unbelievable to me I get 1-2 ticks a day
That’s really dangerous and you should never do that! You can get borealia doing that it’s incredibly stupid.
I LOVE THE INSHOT’S MUSIC!!! Anyway thanks for the tips!
In some countries they even have vaccines against some diseases spread by ticks, for example one against encephalitis (brain inflammation, very unfun). There also seem to be some in development against Lyme disease. These vaccines are in phase 3 of testing (human trials) so if they get approval and such, they’ll be made more widely available.
Even if vaccinated, I’d still avoid ticks, but it’s nice to have another line of defense against serious illnesses.
Is there a vaccination for this? I did not think there was.
@@willothewispl there was (edited to add: a Lyme vaccine) once in the 90s but it was pulled from market after certain (rare) adverse events that got a lot of media coverage. this was basically the start of the (modern) anti vax movement.
there are new studies happening now but we may still be about 10 years away from it coming to market.
@@willothewispl in Austria I know for sure that they get vaccinated against TBE because I did an exchange there. They wanted us to get the vaccines, but there wasn't enough time to because you have to get multiple shots spread out over a period of time, otherwise we definitely would have done it.
As for Lyme, it's a case of not YET as far as I can tell. On the CDC site they said that there was a vaccine but in the early 2000s it got discontinued and the company claimed it was because not enough people wanted it. The CDC also said there were some in the works, the phase 3 I mentioned, BUT the vaccines seem to only be for specific strains.
There is a vaccine against TBE (tick-borne encephalitis). I spend a lot of time in the forest so I would recommend this.
I just got my second vaccination against brain inflammation
Never I repeat NEVER!!!! PULL OUT A TICK what you do is slowly squeeze the tip without crushing/ squishing then it'll get lose then and only then you pull it out and don't throw it out put it in a well seeled jar or pill bottle then bring it to the hospital
I hope they see this
If it’s on the surface like that then it’s doable but if it burrowed in at all yeah you need a tick remover
Why do you bring it to the hospital?
Its a lot better to pull them out also on your dog. If you use tweezers ur.more likely to push bacteria and blood into the wound
I think they know this, but since they often spend multiple days outside of civilization and don't have tweezers on hand, getting the tick off in a timely manner is safer than just leaving it there for god knows how long until they get some.
I got Lyme disease a few years ago, after camping got home and showered, thats when i noticed about half a dozen ticks in my hair!!! Tick checks are important people
Horrifying
Where were you??
@@user-Aaron- southern Illinois. Shawnee state park i think
@@benthor1951 Good to know - thanks!
Goodness that's a lot😟
Thank you for the information for those of us who are not familiar with ticks but may be in an area that has them 😊
Every time I watch something like this I start itching lol It's a good habit no matter where you live or hike, to check yourself every night!
it’s so important to be careful with lyme disease! i knew a girl who didn’t receive treatment fast enough and she was out of school for months and had long lasting effects.
A worthy thing to carry with you might be a can of freeze spray just in case the head breaks off in the skin! In Australia the protocol is to freeze them right away rather than trying to remove cause they tend to burrow in as soon as you touch them 😬 no hate here good on you for getting it out quick! I absolutely love watching your videos, thanks for sharing your amazing adventures!
Your comment is the only one I have seen to even mention this. This is what I was taught in my first aid course when I was group leading for outdoor ed companies in Victoria
I was diagnosed when I was 11.. fever so bad I couldn't walk.. it is not a fun thing to have.. glad u guys prep so well... Stay safe out there. Ps ur videos made me get out more lol thanks
I got a little plastic tick remover that I added to my first aid kit for backpacking. :)
Never knew that 24 hour thing, I know from your wording that you can still be affected but it’s good to know this is a thing 🤷♀️🙌🏻
It's pure bullcrap
So I actually have another thing to add, if you use coconut oil the Ticks won’t attach to your body. They will most likely fall off due to the slipping. Me and my family have been using coconut oil for awhile and it works really well.
Several years ago my partner had Lyme disease from a tick. It is no joking matter. Excruciating symptoms (back pain) and facial paralysis. That was with treatment
At one point they were developing a vaccine for Lyme but dropped it. There is a vaccine for dogs and I hope they are testing one for people. Great advice. Thank you!
It’s crazy that they still don’t have a human vaccine at this point. Saw some video it was due to fracturing and privatization of the healthcare industry or something.
You should carry peppermint oil. If you pour it on the tick while it is in your skin it will leave by it self. I always do it whit my dog because she always gets them. Hope
this helps.❤
But don't the ticks then "panic" and release even more saliva (or whatever that is) and get it into the bite wound?
This is very good advice! But just so you know, ticks tend to release more infectious liquid if you just pull them out, the head can even stay in and then reconstruct a body, to avoid that I'd advise you to pull gently whilst turning it anti clockwise.
Thank you for your videos, the quality and preparation for your trips is very impressive!
I was taught in Scouts to also tuck shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks, plus ensure you put repellent around your waist, ankles and shirt openings. Was pretty effective
Yes!! I wish more people talked about tick safety! Lymes is no joke!! It's taken over my husband's life
Tick spoon is lightweight and attaches to key rings.
Love you guys
One in three people receive a bullseye rash. One in four who have Lyme Disease test positive on a blood test. There are so many co-infections that one can receive from those bugs that it’s hard to pinpoint. I’ve suffered from Chronic Lyme for almost ten years. Those buggers are no joke! Not to mention being a medical hassle as doctors rarely treat it correctly because they are not knowledgable. Plus it’s rarely covered by insurance. Thanks for spreading some awareness!
Don’t forget to check your scalp! Those little bastards are pretty hard to find in your hair, so have your partner check for you and check his hair too.
Tell me about it😭. I have long curly hair and after a day outdoors it's sweaty and tangles easy. Even bees have become very angry at me after getting stuck in my hair😂. I usually have to wear it in a cap and or braided. But yeah, they do love the scalp.
I haven't cut my hair since I was a child, but if I was going to spend time in tick territory I think I'd have to go bald, just for peace of mind.
As an Australian when they said “long grass you know what that means!” I said to model “yep! Snakes!” 😂
Public health practitioner here! If you find a tick embedded in your skin you need to remove it with tweezers. It's best to carry them with you if you're hiking, but if you're closer to a city definitely wait to remove until you can pick up a pair at a pharmacy. You're lucky no part of the tick was left under the skin but in general, do not use your fingers to remove them if at all possible.
Never, EVER use a match or lighter to encourage them to back out. They will often rip off their mouth parts or more in the process. Always make sure the tick is dead before leaving it after it's been removed so it doesn't have the opportunity to bite someone else.
Absolutely agree!!
Ticks actually live in the woods more often than in grasslands, in case of wildfire. If a tick was in the middle of a grass field the bug could not escape, if it’s in the tree line and a fire starts, it will climb the tree to escape.
As someone who had Lyme disease that caused grand mal seizures, if you find a tick on yourself take an easy course of antibiotics for a month and you’ll be okay. It’s worth it instead of it turning into something debilitating.
antibio are NOT for preventive usage pls don’t do that
I love that you love doing this... But every video you post makes me realise that we are very different.
You should get a tick key! It's a small Keychain that pulls them out head and all every time.
SUCH an important video! Thanks for making it engaging too
Not all people who get Lyme have the bullseye rash! So don't use that as your only indicator that you've got it. And make sure to carefully remove the tick, not squishing it and not leaving any bits behind.
Keep in mind, less than 40% of people get a bullsye if they come in contact with a tic carrying lyme. Thanks guys for posting!
Take a bottle with you without anything in it. Any ticks you find attached can be put in the dry bottle so the tick can be tested.
You can have a bull eye rash without having Lyme disease.
And Lyme disease without the rash
No way I’m hiking with a clown who saves EVERY tick out of fear of the .01% chance they get sick. That’s incredibly excessive.
@iandoggett6647 you only save ticks that are attached. Research the disease, look at the life long, life altering symptoms and effects. Such a small action that can keep you from being sick forever.
So calm for getting your first tick!
I had a tick imbed itself into my scalp. I never felt the damn thing... I just want to know why tick bites don't hurt. You literally don't feel them until they have burrowed into your freaking body
Their saliva has evolved to contain natural anticoagulants. As to why it doesn't hurt, consider how drawing blood doesn't hurt once needle is in. My best guess as to why it doesn't generally hurt is that simply having blood leave your body doesn't generally agitate nerves.
@@ShadowSlayer1441all anticoagulants do is stop the blood from clotting they dont stop pain. They don't hurt because they have anesthetics
Had one on my sack, felt that one
I think their saliva has anaesthetic apart from coagulant like mosquitoes do, plus their "tooth" are so sharp and thin that they literally don't trigger any kind of pain. At least that's what I've always heard but I'm not a biologist so idk
@@owen1737not your sac 😭
We were just at my moms house in Nova Scotia Canada. Lots of ticks there. We checked the kids and the dog every night for them. I found one on the dog.
Great advice. Stay safe
I'm sure ppl have already written it here somewhere, but it's better to twist the tick around instead of pulling. If you pull, there is a risk that the neck snaps off because the tick still bites your skin, and the head stays in your skin. When you twist the tick, it releases itself from your skin willingly.
I have probably removed about 100 ticks from my dogs, cats and my mom. Consider myself some kind of an expert by now.
What do u do if the head comes off n stays in body? I have one stuck now lol. The twisting helps them to release?
@@zb7688 Twisting definetly helps then release their grip. If you have one stuck, then you should get it removed by a nurse because it's probably gonna get infected.
When my brother was still in elementary school a girl actually died from Meningitis that was transmitted by a tick. So it’s super important to check for ticks when finishing a hike!
Don’t just pull it out like that!!! Dish soap works pretty well to get them to detach. Since it does take awhile to establish infection you have time to not screw around with it. Also not a bad idea do go to an urgent care for prophylaxis because it’s a single dose of an antibiotic - why risk it?
NO. Dish soap, alcohol, any chemical really might cause the tick to regurgitate (vomit) into the wound. This will cause infection. Better off removing it as they did by grabbing very firmly at the base/head.
The antibiotic used to treat Lyme is literally the worst for your whole system, you do NOT want to be taking antibiotics like that, and most doctors worth their salt won't prescribe them without good reason.
During my hiking trip at camp, four days and three nights which doesnt evne compare to what you folks are doing which is super inspiring. I found around five ticks on my clothing in one day which was pretty funny to watch the others freak out. But yes always do tick checks!
Twist them when pulling out, the last thing you want is that the head stays in
My specialist i see in Byrdstown Tn, for RMSF and Lymes said it just takes them biting and breaking skin to transfer diseases. Definitely not fun stuff. Be safe! Love your guys videos!
Definitely carry a tick key for safety!!
Them: Tall grass, yknow what that means
Me: don’t go in without a Pokemon
You should carry alcohol wipes. If you hold it against the tick it will pull out and fall off on its own then you don’t have to pull them and risk leaving mouth parts in your skin.
Hand sanitizer also
Do not do this! Methods like this can make them puke, making disease spread a lot more likely.
I spent three years working on a trail crew in Idaho and contracted Lymes disease. Three years in I had a full blown case with all the symptoms. It took a full 18 months to get better. It was tough.
carry a tick key!!
Your right it can be dangerous to just pull you need to spin it and then pull or else it’s head can get stuck and you can get sick
That’s good u found the tick before it burrowed fully into ur skin!❤❤
I've only had one tick bite in my life. The little guy was so small I couldn't get all of him out and ended up with a huge abscess about a month or so later and that was no fun
You are just not tasy. I have had probably over a hundred but they just like the smell of some people. My dad is one of them. Whenever we go hiking i had to remove like 10 or 20 of those suckers when you catch them crawling on you and maybe a few with the tick check but my dad would literally have to brush off over 50 a day
You were probably bitten by a tick in the nymph stage. So sorry you ended up with an abscess. 😢
I moved to rural Kentucky from Seattle about 13 years ago. I've been bitten by at least 20 ticks, but I always get them off fast and I've never had a problem.
You should scrape the tick out with a credit card or something, never pull it like that because the head can get stuck in the skin.
It looked like it did in the video!
As someone with alpha-gal, I appreciate this. So, so much. Be careful and bring what you need to repel critters!
I had a tick on me once as a teen. Don’t know how it got there, I found it on my ribs when I was getting dressed in the morning. It wasn’t big so I don’t think it was there long and I didn’t even know what it was so I tried to flick it off me but when that didn’t budge it, I pulled it, absolutely horrified that it had part of its self UNDER my skin. When I told my dad he took me to the doctor and I didn’t know why. Anyways, I was fine. No clue how it got there, I was definitely not a hiker.
This is unbelievable to me I get 1-2 ticks a day
@@charlesellison5999 that’s wild. Do you live in the forest? I had no idea people were so scared of them for diseases, I just think it’s gross that they stick their head into your skin.
Wow, to the point and informative. Great short!
How do you guys charge your phones
Solar batteries
Lyme disease is not fun I have had it and it sucks
I'm going on my duke of Edinburgh expedition and this is great to know, thanks!
Are you guys worried about Lyme Disease? I’m SO worried about ticks due to this!
According to the CDC, a tick typically has to be attached for 36-48 hours before it transmits lyme. Plus, only certain ticks (deer ticks) can carry lyme, and they have to be in a certain stage of life to transmit it. As long as you check your skin every day (or technically even every other day), you should be fine. And if you're concerned it's been longer that, go to the doctor and they'll prescribe antibiotics. :)
@@Mikhaelinwhat a positive and informative comment. You helped me also! Thank you!
@@Mikhaelin thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏
I LOVE YOUR TRAIL VIDEOS,SO COOL AND BEAUTIFUL 🤩
Trust me ticks aren’t fun because I have recently been diagnosed with alpha-gal
Thanks for the tip! Definitely did not know it takes 24 hrs for the diseases to spread!
I had a tick on my neck and when i pulled it off it hurt like hell
I searched up tics and turrets because I have it and I got this 💀
If you cover the tick with some Vaseline they'll let go and back up because they can't breathe. That way you don't have to worry about pincers staying in you skin.
As someone who lives in the forest where deer spread way too many ticks each spring etc, consider buying a tick-card!!
It's as thin and same shape as your credit-card, fits in your phone case etc and it has a notch that's proven to pull out the tick without severing its limbs or putting pressure on the abdomen
Stay safe
wear trousers
They said that they do 😐
Sometimes it mifht be too hot to wear long pants, and if the ticks get onto the shoes they cab still travel
This dude is out here doing the thing. Wow!
Ticks are the worst!!
You can get a tick out by rotating it clockwise about 10 or 20 times and it just pops out but stopping kinda resets it so constantly spin it till it pops out.
So sick with their Lego looking legs ew- I'm glad you put this out there ❤ ty
Personally I'd rather continue living in a house with cockroaches, than go outside and deal with ticks. All I need is a bottle of bleach for roaches and I'm good. I don't wanna go on a scavenger hunt for a bug that's on me!
Bottle of bleach? Does it help get rid of them?
@@BreakKaydenBreak As long as it's liquid bleach. The smaller cockroaches are easiest to kill. While bigger roaches take longer and require being drenched. The way to kill a roach is to get it to consume the bleach. So that's why the bigger the harder to kill, but it's absolutely possible and the best way I've found. Other than the bleach stains, so try not to get it on art or fabrics. Hope this answers your question/curiosity.
How does bleach help with roaches?? I live on the west coast. I have pest control once a month 😂
@@HalloweenKing10 Do you dilute the solution of bleach? Like a 1:1 Ratio of water and Bleach? Also real quick for anyone who does read this, Bleach can be very dangerous if mixed with other chemicals. Like Bleach and Vinegar, this can create Chlorine gas which can kill you. Also Bleach and acetone etc. Creates Chloroform which again is highly dangerous.
@@butterflytaylor2474 I don't know, bleach just kills them. If they consume it, they die in a few seconds. Otherwise they will just be in agony hurting. I'd love to get pest control, but I don't have the money. So bleach was the next best thing.
Text time, dont just PULL them oft..TWIST and PULL, It helps remove the entire ticks mouth..and prevents pulling on the skin too much
A hot needle or a match that’s on fire will make them back out of the bite
So my dad had a tick bite about two years ago. Due to certain meds he takes we were uncomfortable taking it out on our own, so he went to an urgent care/er (this hospital covers both). They took it out for him and even asked if he wanted to get it checked for lime disease and other diseases. We’re from Europe and have pretty decent health insurance that covered the testing (if you treat lime early on you can prevent/ delay most of the bad symptoms). The tick thankfully came back negative. If you’re in this situation I would highly recommend asking and doing this testing. Also if you have animals like dogs, ask your vet about a lime disease vaccine. Where we are there are a couple ones for dogs and that can help with herd immunity and spreading of the disease
Use fire it jumps off
Don't use fire. It will get the tick off, but in the process it will "vomit" into your bloodstream, making it much more likely to give you disease
It also pukes/spits back in your bloodstream
A good habit to get into is to do a tick check every time you use the bathroom. (If you are camping or in a situation you would encounter ticks)
don't fucking go where there are ticks.
so don’t go in nature? not an option
There’s ticks almost everywhere mate
So people should never leave their home?
@@XandarYT works for me. I have never had ticks, chiggers, scorpions, rattle snakes... if you don't go where ticks can bite you and give you a horrible disease, you are less likely to get bit and get a horrible disease.
You’ll be stuck inside most places then lol
Youre taking care of yourself well. My legs would have looked like a nightmare.
Never pull them out, to get them off it's more secure to twist it until the mouth gets fully off. When pulling them, sometimes the head might get stuck deep in the skin. Nice video. 😊
A helpful tip i learned is to wrap double sided tape around the top of your shins, the tics will get stuck on that and you can remove it when you are done hiking, completely tic free