Why Ticks are Dangerous
What are ticks and why are they dangerous?
Ticks are parasites that feed on animal and human blood. There are more than 800 species of ticks around the world,
Ticks are dangerous because they can cause irritation and in some cases, disease. It is important to check yourself, your loved ones and your pets for ticks whenever you have been outside in area that is known for having ticks.
A tick attaches itself by piercing its sharp mouthparts into skin. It then injects an anticoagulant (a substance that prevents blood from forming clots) saliva which allows it to feed without the blood clotting. The tick saliva may be toxic or carry diseases and other pathogens.
Tips for finding ticks:
- Check yourself and your clothes each time you go outside
- Ticks may crawl on. your body for two hours before biting, so look all over
- Ticks will often find a ‘safe’ place to hide – in your hair, behind your ears. Feel with your hands and look if possible. Ask a family member or friend.
Tips for avoiding ticks:
- Wear appropriate clothing such as:
- a long sleeved shirt
- long pants tucked into socks
- light colored clothing to make it easier to see ticks on clothes before they attach to the skin
When to get help:
- you have trouble killing or with tick removal;
- you have accidentally scratched off an attached tick;
- you develop a rash or fever or any other symptoms following a tick bite;
- you are concerned about tick-borne illnesses; or
- you suspect you have developed a tick allergy. Your doctor can refer you to an immunologist or allergy specialist for testing and treatment.
How does freezing ticks work?
If you find a tick attached to your skin, there’s no need to panic. The goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible while minimizing the risk of the tick passing the pathogen or toxin.
Freezing the tick is thought (read study here) to stop the process that passes the pathogen or toxin into the host (you, your loved one, your friend, your pet). The ArcTick freeze spray does just that. You gently depress the canister, an ozone and human and animal-friendly freezing gas is discharged in a measured amount to freeze the tick on the spot.
Even if you freeze the tick, it is important to remove the tick carefully, without twisting or crushing the tick.
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