If you find a tick inside your home, here’s what you need to know

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.

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers: Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
2. 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.
3. 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.

1. Isolate the area: If you have identified the presence of ticks in a specific area, keep pets and children away from that space.
2. Wear protective gear: Put on gloves and a long-sleeved shirt to protect yourself from potential tick bites.
3. 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.

Ways BFF Relationships Have Changed From The ’90s Versus Today

We all experienced that a person BFF escalating up in the ’90s

— that one particular particular person we’d have late-evening mobile phone phone calls with,

gossip with about how strict our parents had been, coordinate outfits with.

And when you think about best mates in the ’90s compared to nowadays, you notice that a whole lot has adjusted,

but the fundamentals remain the exact same: you however expend late evenings on the cellphone with your BFF

and you even now gossip with her. You also nevertheless coordinate outfits but then faux it was a total accident.

Actually, factors aren’t all that diverse just after all. We’re just older and drink way extra wine.

Best buddies are the siblings we by no means had. Or possibly we did have siblings

but we just did not like them incredibly considerably. Although your siblings stole your favourite

toys and ran all around exterior with your schooling bra on your head (*cough* happened to a friend…),

your very best friend was the a single you’d make prank calls with, and the shoulder

to cry on when you caught your crush holding fingers with some other chick on the playground.

We would not be the place we are with no our finest buddies

— both equally again in the ’90s, and to this day, even nevertheless times might have adjusted a minor.

1. The Fights We Get Into

In the ’90s: Your BFF thoroughly promised to take treatment of your digital

pet while you have been away on trip, and then she permit it die. You could not glance at her the exact same after that.

Right now: Older people really do not actually battle anymore. Alternatively,

we depart passive-aggressive comments on Fb and purposely really do not like every single other’s Instagram posts.

2. How We Make Up Afterward

In the ’90s: This was the pre-smartphone era so getting by a combat

with your BFF usually associated passing her a observe in class, full

with plenty of frown faces, dotting the i’s with hearts so she realized how

unhappy you had been with no her, and ending it with “LYLAS” — “love you like a sis,”

for everyone who forgot how we made use of to abbreviate stuff.

Now: The peace offering usually requires a $12 Starbucks espresso consume and a smiling selfie of you two collectively to put the previous at the rear of you.

3. Friday Night Entertainment

In the ’90s: We’d head to the mall and acquire faux nose rings from Claire’s, ideal prior to sneaking into an R-rated film. We were so terrible.

Now: Who goes out any longer? Not us. Give us anything on Netflix to binge watch and a bottle or 12 of wine, and we’re good to go. Can you say FriYAY?

4. Playing Wingwoman

In the ’90s: Right after deciding who the like of your lifetime was employing

the almighty cootie catcher, you’d phase a operate-in throughout science course, although your BFF kept other ladies away.

These days: Just about every BFF is aware the way to aid you obtain lasting appreciate: spending 14 hrs trying to find him on Fb with practically nothing but his center identify.

5. Squad Targets

In the ’90s: In essence, lifetime was all about acquiring a few a lot more women as cool as you so you could fake to be the Spice Women.

Now: Well, the superior information is you only need one far more person to do the One Ladies dance,

but you’re not significantly of a people particular person these times, so your BFF is additional than plenty of.