VIEW our unique "How-to ..." animations and videos to experience the safest and most effective tick-bite prevention techinques. Click on the image to watch the animation.

How-to .... Remove A Tick Safely

So, you've found a tick biting and you want to get it off. To have the best chance of preventing disease transmission, it is important to remove the tick RIGHT AWAY ..... and, to do it SAFELY. It is best to use a sharp pair of tweezers so you can grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. The first two animations show what is likely to happen if you use a sharp tick removal tweezer and proper technique. The third animation shows what can happen if your use a blunt tweezer. Remember, it is always best to disinfect the area before starting and again , after removing the tick.

BEST

Use a sharp tick removal tweezer ... disinfect with rubbing alcohol ... grab tick close to skin and use slow, steady motion to pull tick out ... disinfect again ... identify the tick ... approximate attachment duration ... consider tick testing for infection.Click image to watch the animation

STILL OK

Sometimes the tick's hypostome breaks off while removing the tick and remains in the host's skin. There is no real need for concern as the broken hypostome should be treated as a splinter. You can still ... identify the tick ... approximate attachment duration ... consider tick testing for infection. Click image to watch the animation

NOT SO GOOD

Have you ever tried to remove a tick with an average household tweezer? If so, you already know how difficult it can be to get a good grip on such tiny object as nymphal stage ticks. Using blunt tweezers increases the chances of ripping the tick during the removal, which may cause infected blood and fluid from the tick to splatter onto the skin (and possibly into the hole the tick has made). If the tick does rip, be sure to use antiseptic wipes around the tick-bite site. Click image to watch the animation