Another antenna work hazard to beware of, and a possible solution

[k4kyv]

With this year's early spring I have been doing quite a bit of outside work, both on the antenna system revisions, and cutting and gathering next winter's firewood. Tower climbing and chain saws can indeed be hazardous (although my antenna work has all been on the ground for this project), but a little-thought-of hazard here is the damned ticks.  Tiny little things so small you can barely see them, but they leave an itchy bump that is worse than a chigger bite, and local doctors say we are in the midst of an epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever this year, and the things also carry lyme disease. Even working in the closely mowed grass where the tower is located, I seem to pick up ticks by just stepping foot outside the door.

For this, we can thank the geniuses at the state wildlife agency about 60 years ago who "re-introduced" nearly-extinct white tail deer to this region by trucking them in from other states and releasing them into wilderness areas. Before then, the ticks in this area bothered dogs and farm animals, but rarely attacked humans, and those are large enough you can actually see them. The deer are said to be the source of these new pests, and with a dearth of natural predators such as wolves, the deer population has gone out of control.

Bug repellents that contain DEET work well for flying insects, but seem ineffective for repelling ticks.  I did a little research and came up with a  recommended alternative.  Yesterday I spent the entire day out in the antenna field and so far have not seen evidence of any ticks, so maybe the stuff actually works.  It is called PERMETHRIN, said to be derived from a natural plant. You spray a 0.5% solution on your outer clothing, including belts, hats and socks and let it dry before donning the clothing. It is NOT to be sprayed directly on the skin.

Several such products are sold for human use and are somewhat expensive.  I couldn't find anything locally, but at a farmer's supply I did find a multi-purpose veterinary insecticide in a 10% permethrin/90% inert ingredients solution, for only $6 in an 8 oz. bottle.  I diluted it down by mixing with water to a 20:1 ratio, and used a small plastic spray bottle for application. That little bottle of the product should be enough to last more than one season.

Regarding the antenna project, I now have the OWL tuners for the 80m and 40m dipole working.  According to the RF ammeter inserted in the tuned feeder going up the tower, depending on the frequency I get between 11% and 20% more power to the antenna using the untuned OWL link from the shack than I did with the RG-213 or RG-214.  Next will be the 160m dipole tuner, and then something for the 160m vertical.

[KA0HCP]

Permethrin was first derived from Chrysanthemum flowers!

The worst case of ticks I ever had was from walking around my grandads farm in central Tennessee near Nashville over forty years ago!  I had dozens and dozens of tiny ticks the elders called "seed ticks".   The solution was well known and my dad went to one of the local general stores and got a bar of mercury soap which promptly removed the ticks!

This warm winter has certainly encouraged the ticks and no doubt many other insects later this year.

 

[K9PNP]

If all else fails, diesel fuel works.  Keeps the chiggers off, too.  But people can smell you coming.

[K2PG]

Or get some guinea fowl. Those birds have a voracious appetite for ticks.

[W7TFO]

ULSD is now classified as a carcinogen.

http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_234655.html

I wouldn't let the new stuff come in contact with my skin anymore.  Burn & itches almost immediately.

73DG

[WD5JKO]

Here is one way to rid your body of ticks:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675063688_instant-dry-cleaning_men-and-women-demonstrate_get-into-tank_collect-belongings

[KA8WTK]

Don, I don't know if you have any cats as pets, but Permethrin is highly toxic to cats according to the Wikipedia.
Others, beware.

[WQ9E]

Pyrethrin solutions are generally derived from chrysanthemum oil and is safe for cats and dogs as a well diluted spray and is used for flea control among other things.  But permethrin  is a synthetic compound and it is highly toxic to cats.

Since pyrethrin is also effective against ticks I would stay with the safer product.   Or you can try planting a whole lot of chrysanthemums around your house.  One would presume that graveyards seldom have a problem with ticks and fleas.

[W7TFO]

One would presume that graveyards seldom have a problem with ticks and fleas.

Indeed, not much for the little bloodsuckers to live on there...

73DG

[W2VW]

One would presume that graveyards seldom have a problem with ticks and fleas.

Indeed, not much for the little bloodsuckers to live on there...

73DG

Visitors and cats?

[WQ9E]

I was referring to the abundance of chrysanthemums usually found in those locales.  But the point about the relative scarcity of hosts is certainly pertinent.

[Ed/KB1HYS]

The Army used to distribute the pyretherin based stuff in aerosol cans.  A lot of guys did NOT read instructions and applied it like regular bug juice.  I never saw anyone get sick, but with some of them it was hard to tell

It did work quite well for tick and chigger or other things that crawled on your skin.  Not so much for skeeters, but treating your bug netting with it would keep them from buzzing around you all night. 

[Steve - K4HX]

I hear castor beans take care of the problem.

[W7TFO]

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth can do the trick and not be hazardous to any mammal:

http://www.qspray.com/diatomaceous-earth/?gclid=CNLPj-Sas68CFYgFRQodbSdMjw

Out here, it is really cool as it will dispatch all arachnids, like spiders & scorpions that most bug killers won't touch.

73DG

[KB2WIG]

Get some fle collars and put 'em on.


klc

[k4kyv]

The Army used to distribute the pyretherin based stuff in aerosol cans.  A lot of guys did NOT read instructions and applied it like regular bug juice.  I never saw anyone get sick, but with some of them it was hard to tell

It's been said (suspected but not proved) that this may have contributed to the Gulf War syndrome, as a reaction with  other chemical exposures and some of the vaccinations the Army gave.

When used according to instructions, neither pyretherin nor permethrin is likely to be any more hazardous than deet.  The latter is suspected to have caused some cases of neurological damage.

[Ed/KB1HYS]

The Army used to distribute the pyretherin based stuff in aerosol cans.  A lot of guys did NOT read instructions and applied it like regular bug juice.  I never saw anyone get sick, but with some of them it was hard to tell

It's been said (suspected but not proved) that this may have contributed to the Gulf War syndrome, as a reaction with  other chemical exposures and some of the vaccinations the Army gave.

When used according to instructions, neither pyretherin nor permethrin is likely to be any more hazardous than deet.  The latter is suspected to have caused some cases of neurological damage.

Possibly, we were given full batteries of shots for every conceivable illness, both weaponized (Anthrax, smallpox etc) and normally occurring (tetanus, plus God-Knows-What), A lot of us got the classic, "Flu-like" symptoms for a few days after the shots.  We also had to take daily doses of Deoxycycline (sp) as an anti-malarial. 

It wouldn't be too surprising that the mix of drugs and vaccinations all at once could cause issues with someones immune system or cause other issues.

I was not allowed to donate blood for 1 year after returning from Overseas.  At the time I thought it was so that any bugs I carried back wouldn't be transferred to the recipient, now I often wonder if it was just because of the chemical/biological soup in my veins would have put some poor soul into shock all by itself .

[K3ZS]

During USAF basic, we were required to take salt pills, they were suppose to help in hot humid weather.   They made me sick everyday until I just ditched them and then felt much better.    What were they thinking?

[KB2WIG]

The air farce had it partially right -  It's in the manner of the sodium intake. What ya do is to add table salt into beer, then drink it down before all the bubbles go awway.

klc

[The Slab Bacon]

If all else fails, diesel fuel works.  Keeps the chiggers off, too.  But people can smell you coming.

Just be careful not to splash it on the BAs, it'll definately have you steppin an fetchin! ! !     

[WQ9E]

The new ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel) may be good for the environment but it isn't for a lot of other things.  It attacks some of the materials used in earlier diesel fuel systems, is a more active cleaning agent (especially when blended with soy oil), and appears to be more corrosive.  Most of this is probably more of a result of the sulfur removal process than the actual lack of sulfur since LSD (no, not the drug; just plain low sulfur diesel) allowed extended oil drain intervals.

The only thing it has done to my 1995 Deere 955 utility tractor is to attack the fuel level sensor so the gauge reading is not very useful.  Over time I will see what other parts don't like ULSD.  My 2006 GMC pickup doesn't mind it but doesn't require it since it was made prior to needing a DPF (diesel particulate filter).  Given what it does to some formerly fuel safe materials I think I will keep it off my skin.  My worst diesel coating occurred in 2002 when the fuel nozzle at a Pilot station wouldn't shut off and I got a nice diesel shower.  Today that would be a much more expensive shower.  Fortunately I was by myself on that trip because it took a couple of days for the aroma to go away.  Pilot did compensate me for their equipment failure.

[WBear2GCR]

They sell a Citronella based pump aerosol. That seems to be somewhat effective.

Pyrethrin seems more better than the synthetic stuff to me.

I would never put DEET on my skin... i have applied to shoes, socks and to the back of my shorts or at the rear of the knees of pants... thus far it has worked in concert with the Citronella spray...

I had two cases of Lyme. Not good stuff.

My understanding is that the ticks are spread by the Deer Footed Mouse, not Deer.  Although I suppose they can hitch a ride on deer too and other animals...

So whack Mickey.

                   _-_-bear

IF you get a bite that swells, sort of like a giant mosquito bite - THAT is an infected tick bite. Run, do not wait to ANY doctor who will give you antibiotics, DO NOT WAIT for the "rings" then it may be too late. If your regular doctor is not willing to give the antibiotics on the spot, GETCHER BUTTE TO ANOTHER ONE FAST!!!

Lyme, if it become chronic is debilitating to the max. Don't screw with it.

[flintstone mop]

The ticks and Lyme thread is getting me thinking.
I was in our backyard and not in any deep grass or wooded area. And something bit me on the leg near the knee. I thought it might be a chigger bite coz it itched so bad. A few hours later it swelled up and started to hurt. I put the hottest Epsom salt water compress that I could stand and took an Alleve. The next day didn't hurt so bad and another day passed and it looked like a big pimple with a head. So I popped it and another session of very hot water Epsom salt compress, and then the event was over. I never saw any rings... This is getting scary. Lyme disease may take several months to develop....
Anyway my situation never looked like these pictures from the link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002296/

Bear, you're saying that a tick can just bite you and be gone? I thought they would get attached to the skin and there is a trick to get them out without leaving their head in your body.
Fred

[WBear2GCR]

Roger that.

Bite and gone.

The fast swelling as you describe may or may not have been Lyme.

The Western Blot test will only show if you have EVER been exposed to lyme, not if you currently have it. Worth having the test.

People DO NOT always get the rings until it is very advanced.

Then you can get rings all over the body later on, unrelated to the bite area. I did the second time, iirc.

These days I would always shoot a image of a bite like that, and chronicle its progress - you may need to show it to an infectious disease specialist later, or even a regular doctor (most have no clue).

Sounds more like a spider bite, did it get rather oozy in the middle while healing slowly?

                       _-_-bear

PS. this has been another episode of - Amateur Radio Doctor brought to you by the makers of Colonel Tim's Genuine Virgin Antenna Wax, now Gluten Free!

[The Slab Bacon]

The new ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel) may be good for the environment but it isn't for a lot of other things.  It attacks some of the materials used in earlier diesel fuel systems, is a more active cleaning agent (especially when blended with soy oil), and appears to be more corrosive.  Most of this is probably more of a result of the sulfur removal process than the actual lack of sulfur since LSD (no, not the drug; just plain low sulfur diesel) allowed extended oil drain intervals.

The only thing it has done to my 1995 Deere 955 utility tractor is to attack the fuel level sensor so the gauge reading is not very useful.  Over time I will see what other parts don't like ULSD.  My 2006 GMC pickup doesn't mind it but doesn't require it since it was made prior to needing a DPF (diesel particulate filter).  Given what it does to some formerly fuel safe materials I think I will keep it off my skin.  My worst diesel coating occurred in 2002 when the fuel nozzle at a Pilot station wouldn't shut off and I got a nice diesel shower.  Today that would be a much more expensive shower.  Fortunately I was by myself on that trip because it took a couple of days for the aroma to go away.  Pilot did compensate me for their equipment failure.

I flat out do not like low sulfur diesel fuel. It also doesn't have the lubricity of the older stuff. I have a couple of older pieces of equipment that have small 1-cyl diesels on them. These ate older engines with old style hydrauluc fuel injection. I have already noticed some sticking injector problems with that stuff. I cured it by mixing some motor oil, 2-stroke oil, ATF, or whatever kind of oil that I have an open container of with it. (somewhere around + 50:1 or so.

One thing that LSD / ULSD works well in is "torpedo" style kerosene heaters. It lights instantly, burns clean and has no odor. But, I dont think I would try it in a wick type heater. It also makes for a pretty good cleaning solvent.

For $4.25 / gallon, it should be good for something.