What should I do if I find a tick on myself or a friend?

The longer a tick remains attached to someone, the greater the chance it will be able to spread a disease-causing germ. Therefore, any attached tick should be removed as soon as possible. Using needle-nose, or pointed tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Slowly pull the tick away (this takes patience and often takes several minutes - pull slowly to allow the tick to release from the skin). Once you have the deer tick, it may be placed in a jar filled with a few ounces of rubbing alcohol which will both kill the tick and preserve it for future testing by your doctor, if necessary. To avoid spreading the bacterium, don't squash the tick with your bare hands.

Show All Answers

1. What should I do if I find a tick on myself or a friend?
2. Should I be treated after removing an attached tick?
3. After I remove an attached tick, what symptoms should I look for?
4. How can I prevent diseases spread by ticks?