Step-by-Step Guide to Removing a Tick
If you’ve ever found a tick lodged in you or a family member, you know it can be an alarming discovery. Ticks are infamous for transmitting a number of dangerous diseases, namely Lyme disease. This makes it important to learn about safe and quick tick removal. When removed in the first 24 hours, the risk of tick-borne illnesses is low. It is when an infected tick is left in for upwards of two days that the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted.
With May being National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, the tick control team at New Mexico Pest Control is here with a step-by-step guide for tick removal. Read on to learn more!
How do Ticks Transmit Lyme Disease?
Infected ticks are capable of transmitted Lyme disease. The ticks most known to become infected and thus carriers of Lyme are deer ticks, also known as blacklegged ticks. These tiny parasitic insects can and will attach to any part of the body but are often found in the groin, scalp, and armpits. Unfortunately, most people are infected through the bites of nymph ticks, who feed in the spring and summertime.
The good news is that when a tick is safely removed within the first 24 hours, the chances of contracting a tick-borne illness are low. It is only when an infected tick has been attached for 36–48 hours can the bacterium be transmitted. Knowing how to promptly and safely remove ticks, then,
is essential to being protected against disease.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Removing Ticks
Tweezers are the most efficient tick removal method. In fact, the following method is backed by the CDC and the ASPCA. Follow these tips to safely remove a tick:
- Grab a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Carefully pull back any hair from the skin surrounding the tick.
- Use the tweezers to firmly grasp the head or mouth of the tick, as close to the skin as possible. Avoid grasping the tick’s body to the best of your ability, as this could inject the tick’s blood into the skin.
- Firmly and steadily pull the tick outward in a straight motion. Try to not twist the tweezers, as this could dislodge the head, leaving it embedded in your skin.
- As soon as the tick is removed, carefully clean the area of the bite, as well as your hands, with soap and water.
- To properly dispose of the tick, place it in a sealed bag or jar with alcohol. Another option is to flush the tick down the toilet. Do not crush the tick.
Santa Fe NM Tick Removal Help
Because ticks pose a health threat, it’s crucial to learn how to prevent them properly. Ticks are a common pest in New Mexico in the spring and summertime, making it important to learn how to recognize their activity and how to protect yourself. To learn more about tick removal and parasitic insects in our area, contact the experts at New Mexico Pest Control today!
