If you find a tick that has attached to skin, follow these steps.
If you have been bitten it is important to properly remove the tick as soon as possible. Do not wait for a healthcare professional to remove the tick for you; there is no safe attachment time for a tick to prevent any pathogen transfer.
- Step 1: Use a tweezer to grasp the tick as close as possible to the skin
- Step2: Pull upward, with steady even pressure, until the tick releases to avoid breaking the mouthparts of the tick or rupturing the tick's body.
- Step 3: After tick removal, clean the skin and bite area with soap and warm water.
- Step 4: Save the tick in a bag or container with rubbing alcohol for identification in case an illness develops in the days after tick attachment. Never crush a tick with your fingers.
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