With tick-borne illnesses on the rise in 2018, it’s important that you and your family know how to protect yourselves. Unbeknownst to many people, there is a right way and a wrong way to remove a tick in the event of a bite. Considering ticks can spread lyme disease, tick paralysis, rocky mountain spotted fever, and other serious illnesses, we should all know how to properly remove a tick. If you find a tick on your body, don’t panic! Follow the guide below, courtesy of the National Pest Management Association, to ensure its proper removal.
Stay calm and gently pull back any hair from the skin around the tick, exposing the tick and/or bite.
Locate the head of the tick and grasp it as close to the skin as possible using the fine-tipped tweezers, and gently squeeze.
Do not grab the tick’s body, as this can increase the chance of injecting the tick’s blood into the skin.
Pull outward in a straight motion until the pressure pulls out the head of the tick. Do not twist or wiggle the tick, as that may tear the head off and leave it lodged in the skin.
Once removed, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water. You can also use rubbing alcohol or an iodine scrub.
Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet or wrapping it in a tissue and placing in a closed receptacle. Do not try to crush the tick.
If you develop a fever, rash or feel generally unwell after a tick bite, it’s important that you go see a doctor.
Also, be sure to follow these same tips for your dogs and cats!
There you have it, a step-by-step guide on how to properly remove a tick. If you’d like some added protection for your family this tick season, consider giving Graduate a call.
