Think Spring, think ticks!  An essential piece of gear in my medical kit is a Tick Removal Tool.  You can find these in most hiking/ outdoors store and I did some comparing before I settled on my purchase.

I first looked at Tick Key.  I liked this because it used leverage to remove an embedded tick, it was slim enough to fit in my wallet or I could attach it to my keychain.  However, I did not like the fact that I could lose the tick through the hole.  Not a big issue outdoors, but inside, where I usually seem to find ticks on my dogs, I don’t want this to happen.

Next I considered a Tick Comb.  I liked the fact that it could pick up ticks biding their time in my dog’s coat, however, it was very ineffective once the tick embedded itself.  It did not have the leverage necessary to remove them.

I saw a tick removal tool offered by Ticked Off and gave that a try.  I am glad I did because it is the tool I settled on.  It removes ticks using leverage so you usually get the entire tick, no matter how embedded it is. It is spoon shaped so I capture the tick easily after removal and it is white, making lining it up against a dark colored tick easy as well.  These are inexpensive and I bought several.  I keep two in my medical kit, one in my “dog” cabinet and one in my car.

 

Online First Aid Classes

First Aid for Pets – This course is run by a veterinarian, Dr Katherine, and teaches basic knowledge to render aid for your pets in emergencies.  Be prepared for pet emergencies: build a first aid kit + learn what actions to take for a range of traumas and diseases.

First Aid for Remote and Rural Locations – Wilderness First Aid for those who enjoy the remote areas.

First Aid – A guide to first aid for the common man. Covers sudden illness, wounds, burns, bone injuries and more.