Tick Removal and Disposal: A Guide to Protecting Yourself

If you live near the woods, chances are you will have an encounter with a tick. Ticks are small black arachnids that feast on the blood of animals and humans. Deer, field mice and birds can all be carriers of ticks. They bring the ticks into your yard. If you are lucky, you will spot a tick while it is still crawling on you. If not, you will need to remove it from the spot where it is burrowed in your skin and kill it.

Things You'll Need

• Latex gloves
• Tweezers
• Plastic zipper bag
• Permanent marker
• Freezer
• Rubbing alcohol
• Hand soap
• Water

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Instructions

• 1

  Put on a pair of latex gloves to protect your hands as you remove the tick.

• 2

  Take your tweezers and place them around the tick as close to the skin as possible.

• 3

  Pull upward steadily and slowly.

• 4

  Place the tick in a plastic zipper bag. Date the bag with a permanent marker and put it in the freezer. This will kill the tick and save it in case you need to have it tested for diseases at a later date.

• 5

  Place rubbing alcohol over the area where you received the tick bite. This will disinfect the area.

• 6

  Remove your plastic gloves and wash your hands with soap and water.