Middle East DVEP - Armed Forces Pest Management Board

Appendix F: Personal Protective MeasuresPersonal protective measures are the first line of defense against arthropod-borne diseaseand, in some cases, may be the only protection for deployed military personnel. Properwearing of the uniform and appropriate use of repellents can provide high levels ofprotection against blood-sucking arthropods. The uniform fabric provides a significantmechanical barrier to mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects. Therefore, the uniformshould be worn to cover as much skin as possible if weather and physical activity permit.When personnel are operating in tick-infested areas, they should tuck their pant legs intotheir boots to prevent access to the skin by ticks, chiggers, and other crawling arthropods.They should also check themselves frequently for ticks and immediately remove any thatare found. If a tick has attached, seek assistance from medical authorities for properremoval or follow these guidelines from TIM 36, Appendix C:1. Grasp the tick’s mouthparts where they enter the skin, using pointed tweezers.2. Pull out slowly and steadily with gentle force.a. Pull in the reverse of the direction in which the mouthparts are inserted, as youwould for a splinter.b. Be patient – The long, central mouthpart (called the hypostome) is inserted inthe skin. It is covered with sharp barbs, sometimes making removal difficult andtime consuming.c. Many hard ticks secrete a cement-like substance during feeding. This materialhelps secure their mouthparts firmly in the flesh and adds to the difficulty ofremoval.d. It is important to continue to pull steadily until the tick can be eased out of theskin.e. Do not pull back sharply, as this may tear the mouthparts from the body of thetick, leaving them embedded in the skin. If this happens, don’t panic. Embeddedmouthparts are comparable to having a splinter in your skin. However, to preventsecondary infection, it is best to remove them. Seek medical assistance ifnecessary.f. Do not squeeze or crush the body of the tick because this may force infectivebody fluids through the mouthparts and into the wound.g. Do not apply substances like petroleum jelly, fingernail polish remover,repellents, pesticides, or a lighted match to the tick while it is attached. Thesematerials are either ineffective or, worse, may agitate the tick and cause it tosalivate or regurgitate infective fluid into the wound site.h. If tweezers are not available, grasp the tick’s mouthparts between yourfingernails, and remove the tick carefully by hand. Be sure to wash your hands --197