Health Tip: Tick Removal

Spring is here, and in these warmer months, we’ll all be spending more time outdoors, enjoying the sun, the blue skies, and…the insects, snakes, and yes, ticks.

If you find a tick on your body, or that of a child or pet, remove the tick as soon as possible with a set of fine-tipped tweezers, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC offers step-by-step instructions for removing a tick:

  • Grasp the tick as close as possible to the skin with tweezers.
  • Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
  • After removal, clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol, or soap and water.
  • Dispose of a live tick by flushing it down the toilet.


Photo Credit: wanida tubtawee / Shutterstock.com