How to Remove a Tick Right Now

It is true that most ticks do not carry diseases.However even if the one stuck in your skin doesn't carry a disease,I am still pretty sure you would like it gone!Yuck,right?It is extremely important to remove the tick as soon as you notice it.Removing the tick will help you avoid diseases such as Lyme disease.Ticks are ectoparasites (external parasites), living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals, birds, and occasionally reptiles and amphibians. Okay lets stop talking and get to removing that little arachnid.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. First you will need fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick.If you do not have tweezers,don't use your bare hands.Wear some gloves or cover your hands with tissue paper.

2. Grab the tick as close to its mouth (the part that is stuck in your skin) as you can. The body of the tick will be above your skin.Make sure that you don't grab the tick around its belly. You could push infected fluid from the tick into your body if you squeeze it.

3. Now gently pull the tick straight out until its mouth lets go of your skin.Do not twist or "unscrew" the tick. This may separate the tick's head from its body and leave parts of its mouth in your skin.

4. Put the tick in a jar filled with rubbing alcohol and save it for later identification if necessary.

5. Now it is time to tend to your skin.Wash the affected area with soap and water.A mild dishwashing soap works great.You can use an antibiotic ointment, such as polymyxin B sulfate (for example, Polysporin) or bacitracin. Put a little bit of ointment on the wound. The ointment will keep the wound from sticking to a bandage.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot remove the tick,call your doctor.Do not leave it there!

[jaredsgirl]

on 10/17/2009 Great helpful article on removing a tick right now! My son goes up to camp and we have to check him each time he comes back. Now I'll know what to do if I find a tick on him. 5*