How To Remove A Tick
posted: Jun. 01, 2017.
How to remove a tick
It's Springtime in the Pioneer Valley, which means it's high tick season! If you find a tick attached to your skin, there's no need to panic. There are several tick removal devices on the market, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers will remove a tick quite effectively.
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Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
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Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove everything easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
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After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
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Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.
Now what?
The likelihood of developing an illness from a tick bite is low, particualrly if the tick has not been attached for more than 24-48 hours and it is not engorged. While you do not need to see us for every tick bite, please call if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, and then make sure to tell us about the recent tick bite, when the bite occurred, and where you most likely acquired the tick.