How to Remove a Tick

Steps

1. Find the head of the tick. In most cases, it will be buried just beneath the skin.
2. Get a pair of fine pointed tweezers.
3. Position your tweezers as close to the head of the tick as possibly. Do not grasp the tick's body. This will cause it to inject saliva or blood into your skin and increase the chances of transmitting a disease.
4. Without jerking, pull firmly and steadily outward. It's not uncommon for the skin to also pull until the tick finally detaches.
5. Make sure that the tick has been removed entirely from your skin. If part of the tick remains in the skin, as shown in the picture, have a doctor pull it out.
6. Treat the wound with antiseptic. Alcohol can be used to help prevent the spreading of tick-borne disease. This is most effective right after the tick is removed.
7. Note the date of the tick bite on your calendar in case symptoms develop later. You will need this information for your doctor.

Tips

• Removing a tick shortly after being bitten greatly reduces the chance of disease transmission. It is unlikely that you will contract Lyme Disease if the tick has been attached to you for 24 hours or less.[1]
• Learn to recognize Lyme Disease symptoms. Lyme Disease is generally characterized by a large, circular rash that looks like a target, though some may experience other symptoms.
• You usually don't notice the tick until you actually see it. After you've been in an area with lots of ticks, make sure you check yourself and your pet for ticks.

Warnings

• Do not twist the tick out or apply petroleum jelly, a hot match, alcohol, nail polish or any other irritant in an attempt to get it to back out. Doing so may cause the tick to release extra saliva or regurgitate, increasing the chances of being infected by any pathogens carried by the tick.[2]
• Do not try to pull it off with your hands. You may leave the head piece, which can lead to infection

Things You'll Need

• Tweezers
• Cotton ball
• Rubbing alcohol

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/Prevention/ld_Prevention_Avoid.htm
2. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tick_removal.html

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