During Field Garrison Training, Guard Against Tick Bites! Keep These Scientifically Sound Prevention and Correct Response Methods in Mind
Stay Calm and Know How to Prevent Ticks ■ Zhang Xiaowei, Zhang Jing
During field garrison training, tick bites occur with relative frequency. You may have heard ticks by their common nicknames—"grass crawlers" or "bloodsucking bugs." Before feeding, a tick is only the size of a sesame seed and dark brown in color; after feeding, it can swell to the size of a soybean. It attaches extremely firmly and does not detach easily.
A tick bite is not as simple as a mosquito bite leaving a welt. The diseases it causes—such as Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (commonly called "tick disease")—can, in serious cases, lead to multi-organ failure.
Tick bites are often "completely silent." When a tick bites, it secretes an anesthetic substance, making you feel almost no pain; its mouthparts embed deep into the skin like a barbed hook, and if handled improperly, a broken-off mouthpart left behind will greatly increase the risk of infection.
How can one scientifically prevent tick bites during field garrison training? What should be done immediately after being bitten? Infectious disease experts from the 985th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force have compiled key points for scientifically preventing ticks, drawing on clinical cases.
Clinically, most severe cases caused by ticks are not the result of the bite itself, but of secondary harm caused by incorrect handling. Chen Ying, head nurse of the infectious disease department, shared her handling experience based on admitted cases: upon discovering a tick bite, never forcibly yank or crush the tick's body—doing so will cause the barbed mouthparts to remain in the skin, leading to repeated inflammation, ulceration, and even viral spread; directly crushing the tick's body may also cause secondary infection of the wound, and the splattered bodily fluids may contaminate surrounding broken skin. Burning the tick, scorching it with a cigarette, or applying irritating liquids such as alcohol or floral water will stimulate the tick to burrow deeper and accelerate the release of toxins, substantially increasing the risk of infection and potentially causing chemical burns.
During field training, if a tick bite is discovered, do not panic. You must follow the principle of "remove the tick intact, disinfect thoroughly, observe throughout."
Remove the tick intact. When removing the tick, if fine-tipped tweezers are available, grip the tick's head (mouthparts) as close to the skin as possible and pull upward vertically at a steady, even speed—do not twist or jerk. If tweezers are unavailable, thread can be wound around the tick's body and slowly pulled outward to ensure the tick is removed whole.
Disinfect thoroughly. Immediately after removal, repeatedly wipe the wound and surrounding skin with povidone-iodine or alcohol swabs, and wash both hands thoroughly. The removed tick must be placed in alcohol to kill it, then buried on the spot or disposed of in a designated location. Discarding it casually is strictly prohibited.
Observe throughout. Tick-borne illness has an incubation period of 2 to 30 days; comrades must not let their guard down just because the wound has healed. If any discomfort arises, report it immediately and proceed to the medical station for examination.
Early symptoms of tick infection closely resemble those of a cold, making misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis easy. During field garrison training, if any of the following situations arise, report immediately to superiors and seek medical attention, proactively disclosing any history of outdoor activity and tick bites.
Abnormal wound. Redness, swelling, suppuration, or prolonged failure to heal at the wound site may indicate retained tick mouthparts.
Systemic symptoms. Sudden high fever above 38°C, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, or vomiting.
Hemorrhagic tendency. Gum bleeding, subcutaneous ecchymosis, and similar signs require heightened vigilance for thrombocytopenia syndrome.
It should be noted that delayed treatment of tick infection can lead to multi-organ damage. Medical station personnel receiving such patients must remain highly alert and strictly guard against missed or incorrect diagnoses.
Ticks commonly lurk in moist, densely vegetated areas such as grasslands and shrubs. Before entering forested areas, officers and soldiers can take the following three steps to prevent tick bites.
Physical barrier. Before training, comrades can check each other's dress to ensure it meets requirements, and take care to tighten cuffs and trouser legs to minimize skin exposure to the greatest extent possible.
Scientifically sound repellent use. Apply insect repellent that meets military standards to clothing and exposed skin.
Post-return inspection. After returning to the camp, change and wash clothing promptly and air it out. Comrades can inspect each other, with focused attention on concealed areas such as the scalp, behind the ears, the armpits, and the groin.