Contents

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Reapply repellants before the duration of protection expires:
DEET Concentration Hours of Protection
5-10% 2-4 hours
15% 6 hours
25-30% up to 8 hours
100% 10+ hours
Tick Check
A tick check should be performed after field activities in potential tick habitats, before entering the
field vehicle (you do not want to infest your field vehicle with ticks). Have your field partner check
your back; the backs of your legs, arms and neck; and your hairline. Shake off clothing as
thoroughly as possible before entering the vehicle. Once the field day is completed, repeat this
procedure and perform a thorough self-check.
At the end of the day, search your entire body carefully for ticks, (particularly the groin, armpits,
neck and head), and shower.
Tick Removal
If a tick has embedded itself into the skin, remove the tick as described below. Before performing
activities in potential tick habitats, obtain a Tick Removal Kit from the
regional warehouse (contact Kevin Mayer/GNV, 352-237-8199). The tick
must be removed quickly, cleanly and intact:
• The tick must be removed quickly, the sooner it is removed the less
likely the transmission of potentially infectious organisms, if it is
carrying them.
• The tick must be removed cleanly, to prevent the bite wound form becoming infected.
• The tick must be removed intact, to prevent infecting the ticks fluids into the bite wound which
may contain infectious organisms. Also if intact, the tick may be assessed to determine if it is
carrying infectious organisms (see procedures below).
1. Use pointed, precision tweezers. Cosmetic tweezers with wide, flat ends may crush the tick,
increase the potential of the transmission of potentially infectious organisms if the tick is
carrying them, and make the wound worse. Choose unrasped fine-pointed tweezers whose tips
align tightly when pressed firmly together.
2. After disinfecting the area first, grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pull
upward with stead, even pressure.
• Do not twist or jerk the tick, this may cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in
the skin. If this happens, remove mouthparts with tweezers, and consult your
healthcare provider if infection occurs.
• Do not grasp, squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick because its fluids (saliva,
hemolymph, gut contents) may contain infectious organisms. Releasing these
organisms to the outside of the tick’s body or into the bite area may increase the chance
of infectious organism transmission.
• Do not handle the tick with bare hands because infectious agents may enter through
mucous membranes or breaks in the skin.
3. Place tick in a zip lock bag.
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