PROPER TICK REMOVAL

Tick season is in full swing! You may have already found one of these creepy crawlies on yourself, your child, or pet. It’s a common misconception that you can only be bitten by a tick if you are in the woods or tall grassy areas. Of course, being in those areas increases your risk of tick exposure, however ticks are not exclusive to those areas. They can also be found in shrubbery, weeds, and even yards that are in need of a trim. There are roughly 850 different species of tick around the world, 90 of which can be found right here in the USA. If you are concerned about ticks after being outdoors you can throw your clothing into the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes to kill any potential ticks from entering your home. If you are unfortunate enough to find a tick that is already snacking on you, here are the proper steps to ensure safe and effective removal:

1. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with a pair of fine tip tweezers
2. Pull upward with steady pressure. DO NOT TWIST OR JERK the tick. This can cause parts of the tick to break off leaving pieces in your skin.
3. After the tick has been removed make sure to clean the area thoroughly with alcohol or soap and hot water