All our local authorities(Republic of Ireland)seem to have been instructed by the Health Protection Survelance Centre (HPSC) to promote advice on the dangers posed by some ticks. Some have already published generic advice on their websites. Some reference is made to Tick Removers. In case I am asked, has anyone any experience of any? I am familar with one type (tick-twister) Some mention is made of fine tipped tweezers. When supplying outdoor workers with something to remove a tick, what would you suggest? http://www.kerrycoco.ie/...ites/thefile,4412,en.pdf http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/...Vectorborne/LymeDisease/ Any suggestions

Tick removers can be bought from your local vets - they are excellent - use them often for horses and dog!!! Put it over the swollen bottom of the tick - full of blood - then give a little twist and the little blighter pops out - then you can tread on it or do whatever you wish to do with it - keep it as a pet...???

Seamus - apparently the trick is to cover the offending tick with vaseline - seems that they breathe out their 'rear end' (a bit like me after a cycling into work!!) and need extricate themselves before suffocating FH

Twist anticlockwise as their jaws are corkscrew shaped. There is also a wire shaped remover which is good for long hair dogs or my legs. If you haven't got one try using the thing used to thread cotton through a needle - this type allow you to get close to the mouth parts and gently pull out the horrid little things. There are many organic insect repellents if you prefer to avoid coating yourself with a chemical derivative. Simplest is citronella or neem products and even citrus fruit skin suc as lemon or orange or esential oils like lavender can be used - plus you smell nice in the forrest. If you are off camping use neem soap and shampoo. People (like me) might prefer to use these on their skin if there is a choice - and prevention is better than a cure!

I got a couple from Lyme Disease Action. Cheap to buy and work well on dogs - not actually had one on a human yet. http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/

Technically surgical spirit dabbed on it will dry it up rapidly but construction personnel may find that whiskey is a good substitute - But never the single malt PLEASE :-) Bob

Evening all Easy to spot the ex forces input here. Just removed two from Molly - used a device I got from the vets - looks like a small v shaped prong - easy to get under the tick head and remove. Steve is right in what he says - when I saw a comrade stuck with three in the old days the medic explained always twist anti clockwise as they burrow into their host clockwise. I got Frontline for my Molly, (not to be confused with my partner Julie) and would not suggest using it on people though. Worst thing is if you don't get the head out this can cause some really serious infections, and also don't squeeze them from the body as this forces debris through their mouths into the host they have latched on to - and can cause serious problemsd such as Lyme Disease. Interesting what can get talked about here and certainly can bring back memories. Regards to all Tim Briggs

Pete, couldn't agree more - some of the 'myths' and 'folk remedies only serve to compound the problems. Having had plenty of use of tick removers, I can say that they are very simple to use - we have students who are able to use them after a quick read of the instructions and a five minute talk and practice. There are differeing views on things like neem and citronella - it's a far nicer smell around the camp but can be somewhat hit and miss, I'd rather not use DEET or other chemicals but have found that citronella just doesn't give the level of protection that I get with 'chemical' products. And spending a fortnight a month out in the woods getting bitten on a regular basis is a faff so on goes the deet. Another natural solution that I've found for static camps that works just as well are crampballs - three or four just smudging away helps keep the mosis away nicely.