REMOVING A TICK
- If you find a tick attached to your skin, do not panic. Just remove the tick as soon as possible.
To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible. Pull upward with steady even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. If that does happen, you can use tweezers to remove those parts. If you are unable to remove it easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal. After removal of the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
- Never crush a tick with your fingers.
- Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.
FOLLOW UP! If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks after removing a tick, see your doctor. Be sure to tell the doctor about your recent tick bite, when the bite happened, and where you most likely acquired it.