When working outdoor in agriculture you may be exposed to ticks. Ticks can carry many dangerous diseases. In this lesson, you will learn how to protect yourself from hazards at the workplace, particularly parasites like ticks
Where do ticks live?
It can be dangerous for people working in the field or in the forest. Ticks as well as mosquitos like to bite the bare soft skin. Ticks like to stay in wooded or grassy areas, and near moist places like water. When you pass by, ticks cling to your skin or clothing. They look for a bare soft skin and bite.
The area of Europe is considered endemic concerning diseases carried by ticks. This means that there is no safe place where ticks do not exist.
The season for ticks
The season for ticks and other parasites is from March to October.
How to prevent infection by ticks
To protect yourself, you must follow some rules.
- Use repellent. (Available in the pharmacy)
- Wear long pants and sleeves, covering exposed skin and high boots
- Check clothes and body for ticks on a daily basis
- Quickly remove the tick with tweezers or tick card (also available at the pharmacy)
- Mark and observe the bite
- Contact the doctor if the bite looks infected.
Attention!
If the tick stays in your body for more than 24 hours, you may be exposed to an infection.
How to remove the tick
You should check your entire body after returning from the endangered areas.
If you find a tick on your skin, you must remove it.
- Grab the tick with tweezers or tick card between the skin and the tick and pull the tick straight out gently and steadily. Do not twist
- Make sure to remove the whole tick including the head
- Disinfect your skin
- Observe the bite area
Test your knowledge on ticks