How To Safely Remove A Tick

by Dan Wolff

Ticks may be tiny terrors, as if they were foreboding monsters. All they need is to feast on your blood to cause exposure to the devastation that may be Lyme disease or other tick-borne infections.  In the US, they are currently the fastest-growing vector-borne illnesses.

Since the amount of time the tick stays on you plays such a crucial role in potential disease developments, it's wise to know how to safely remove a tick and to remove them as quickly as possible.

You can’t just grab a tick with your hand and yank it out. You need to remove a tick in such a way that it doesn’t leave you with further exposure. That’s exactly what this article is going to walk you through in 4 simple steps: How to remove ticks.

1. Get a Pair of Clean or Brand New TickEase Tweezers

First step in how to remove ticks: get the right tools. In this case, you’re going to need sterile or brand new fine-tipped tweezers and some kind of disinfectant. I recommend getting a brand new pair of TickEase tweezers which are specially designed to remove ticks of any size and in difficult-to-reach places. Rubbing alcohol is a great choice for disinfectants.

2. Pull the Whole Tick Out, Slow and Steady

Although this may sound counterintuitive, do not kill the tick immediately! The tick’s crushed body under the skin is bound to leave debris that can cause a nasty local skin infection. The mouthparts are especially difficult to remove and are often left behind.

 To safely remove a tick, do this:

  • Use the TickEase tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
  • Once firmly secured, pull on it with steady, even pressure. Avoid any jerking, twisting, or rapid movements.
  • Keep the steady, even pressure until the whole body is removed from the skin.

Now that you know how to remove ticks, make sure you disinfect the area.

3. Disinfect the Affected Skin

Once the bug is removed, clean the wound. Ticks carry many other kinds of pathogens besides the Lyme disease-causing bacteria. If necessary, don’t hesitate to get a band-aid on it too.

4. Do not dispose the Tick

After the tick has been removed, place it in a zip loc bag and write the name of the person bitten, the date and where you think you picked up the tick.  The saved tick can then be used for testing in the future. If you insist on getting rid of the tick, Here are a few ways to consider:

  • Burning it in a safe location
  • Putting it in alcohol
  • Wrapping it securely in tape then tossing it in the trash

Avoid squishing the tick because this makes the blood in its belly splatter all over the place. The blood could potentially be infected and getting any of it on you could be dangerous.

Conclusion

It’s easy to remove ticks with the right knowledge and tools! TickEase tick removal tweezers follow the CDC’s recommended removal guidelines, are easy to sterilize, and can be used on pets too. For your safety and that of your family and pets, invest in the best tools for the safe removal of ticks.

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