Nature is the home to an incredibly versatile array of species, but ticks are definitely one of those that we tend to avoid at all costs.
These tiny arachnids, that are related to spiders, mites, and scorpions, are in fact parasites that survive by attaching themselves to larger animals and feeding on their blood. Humans aren’t spared either. Sadly, these insects carry harmful bacteria that can spread disease to people.
Sadly, tick-borne diseases are at an all-time high, with about 50,000 cases reported each year, and far more going unreported.
There are different types of ticks, and unfortunately, they sometimes find their way to people’s homes. The types most commonly found in homes are the black-legged tick, the dog tick, and the brown dog tick.
- Black-legged Ticks – known as deer ticks, these ticks are typically brown or black in color and have a flattened, oval-shaped body. They are commonly found in wooded areas and can transmit Lyme disease.
- Dog Ticks are larger and can range in color from brown to reddish-brown. They have a tough, shield-shaped body. Dog ticks can transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Brown Dog Ticks are brown in color and have a slender body.
Although the tick season is between March and October, or sometimes longer, we should be wary of this insects all year round. In fact,if beaten by a tick, a person can develop symptoms even after two or three months.
The bite itself isn’t painful and can cause swelling, itchiness, blistering, and bruising. The bad thing is that ticks also carry and transmit severe diseases, most commonly Lyme disease, as well as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis.
Initially, Lyme disease develops as a circular red ‘bull’s eye’ rash around the site of a tick bite. However, not everyone gets a rash and you should also watch out for a flu-like illness with fever, headache, tiredness and general aches and pains.
The best way to prevent being bitten by a tick is to avoid tall grasses and areas where ticks thrive (such as moorlands and woodlands), especially during the warmer months.
In case you do get bitten, you should remove the tick as soon as possible in order to prevent infections.
These are some of the ways of safe removal.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers: Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull gently: Apply steady upward pressure, being careful not to squeeze or crush the tick. Aim to remove the tick in one smooth motion without twisting or jerking. Twisting or jerking can cause the tick’s head to break off and stay inside the skin, where it can still transmit disease.
- Clean the area: After removing the tick, clean the affected area with soap and water or an antiseptic solution. Monitor the site of the bite for any signs of infection or a rash, and consult a healthcare professional if necessary.
If by any chance ticks find their way into your home, take immediate action in order to prevent infestation. Most times, ticks are brought into your home in case they stick on your clothes or onto your pets.
- Isolate the area: If you have identified the presence of ticks in a specific area, keep pets and children away from that space.
- Wear protective gear: Put on gloves and a long-sleeved shirt to protect yourself from potential tick bites.
- Clean the area: Clean the area where you found the tick. If it is in bedding, wash the sheets. Inspect the area to ensure there are no more ticks that are present. Dispose of the tick by either flushing it down the toilet or sealing it in a container or ziplock bag before placing it in the trash.
WATCH : “Sarah Sanders Playfully Roasts Gavin Newsom in Viral Video”
As Trump narrows down his choices for Vice President, one thing to keep in mind is that current Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders was a terrific press secretary for the Trump Administration and that she is on the same waveIength as former President Trump when it comes to mocking enemies, as she managed to hilariously troll California Governor Gavin Newsom over the summer, mocking the state of his state after he attempted to bash red states.
The incident, which occurred over the summer of 2023, came after Greasy Gavin released a video in which he claimed that red states are worse than blue states, primariIy pointing to cri me statistics while ignoring that the high crime to which he is referring occurs in blue cities, not the red countryside.
Attacking Gov. Abbott of Texas, for example, Gavin claimed that Abbott has “One of the worst cri me and mur der rates in America and one of the worst mental health records of any governor in America? I’m not so convinced about the merits of his leadership.” Continuing, Newsom said, “Eight of the top 10 mur der states are Republican states.
Seven of the top 10 dependent states … are red states. He then added, “The life expectancy in the South, and they’re not expanding Medicaid and prenataI care and providing child care? It’s jaw-dropping.”
He then accused Republicans of not caring about “life” and “banning books,” saying, “Infant mortaIity? You care about life, and you look at life expectancy? You care about life, and you’re getting kids that are gunned down by weapons of w ar? Spare me. All in the name of freedom, as you’re banning books?” ConcIuding the video, Newsom said, “With all due respect, we should not be on the defensive as the Democratic Party. The Republican Party should be on their heels, not us,”
Responding to Governor Newsom’s claims, Gov. Sanders released a video of her own in which she ripped into how Newsom has managed California and trolled him with some humor in the video, doing a great job of dismantling his claim that California is better run than red states.
The video Sanders posted to X kicked off with Newsom saying, “We should not be on the defense as a Democratic Party. The Republican Party should be on their heels.” It then pans to a clip of Gov.
Sanders strutting in heels while a report about half a million people fleeing California over the past two years alone dominates the screen. Arkansas was one of the top five states to which people moved.
The clip, just 27 seconds but full of fun at Greasy Gavin’s expense, then cuts to information about how Gov. Sanders managed to lower the unempIoyment rate in Arkansas, slash taxes in the state, and raise salaries for public teachers in the state, all while “in heels.”
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