I like to think of myself as having love and understanding towards all creatures. Even spiders and snakes – fairly common phobias among humans – don’t freak me out to the point where I’ll actively take steps to avoid them.
I guess you could say I can handle most bugs pretty well, but ticks are a whole different story.
Honestly, I wouldn’t even feel bad if ticks disappeared from the planet forever. They’re not just a nuisance (and super creepy), but they can also be really dangerous.
Ticks can spread serious illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, so it’s clear they’re not the kind of guests you want hanging around.
Depending on where you live, the season, and if you have pets, you might run into ticks more often than you think.
So, what should you do if you find one of these tiny pests?
Identify and isolate the problem
It’s a good idea for you to try and identify the type of tick (whether its a black-legged, dog, or brown dog tick). If the tick is located in a specific area, keep your children or pets away until the tick is taken care of.
Protective steps
To prevent ticks from grabbing onto you, put on gloves and wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to keep your skin covered.
Clean thoroughly
Be sure to wash any clothes or bedding that might have touched the tick. Use hot water for the best results. Also, vacuum the area carefully, especially in the corners and small spaces.
Tick removal
Use fine-tipped tweezers to hold the tick as close to your skin as you can. Pull straight up slowly, making sure not to twist or jerk, so the tick’s head doesn’t break off and stay in your skin.
Following the removal, clean any bite areas with alcohol or soapy water. You can use alcohol to dispose of the tick, or else flush it down the toilet.
Monitor your bite
It’s smart to keep an eye on any places where someone has been bitten, and also to watch the person who got bitten for any signs of illness.
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