Tick Removal and Tools

Assessment of Tick Removal Tools
Evaluation of 3 commercial tick removal devices. Done by Ohio State University, Department of Entomology. Use your back button to return to this page.

Tick Removal Procedure:

1.Use fine-point tweezers to grasp the tick at the place of attachment, as close to the skin as possible.
2.Gently pull the tick straight out.
3.Place the tick in a small vial labeled with the victim's name, address and the date.
4.Wash your hands, disinfect the tweezers and bite site.
5.Mark your calendar with the victim's name, place of tick attachment on the body, and general health at the time.
6.Call your doctor to determine if treatment is warranted.
7.Watch the tick-bite site and your general health for signs or symptoms of a tick-borne illness. Make sure you mark any changes in your health status on your calendar.
8.Do NOT throw the tick away! You need to send it to a lab that can analyze it for the presence of the bacteria and viruses that cause tick-borne illnesses.

CAUTION!!!

Children should be taught to seek adult help for tick removal.
Try to avoid at all cost, but if you must remove the tick with your fingers, use a tissue, paper towel or leaf to avoid contact with infected tick fluids.
Do not twist the tick, which can cause breakage, leaving part of its body in your skin.
Do not crush, prick, or burn the tick, which may cause it to salivate or regurgitate infected fluids or tissue.
Do not try to smother the tick (e.g. petroleum jelly, nail polish) as the tick has enough oxygen to complete the feeding.

Tick Removal Tools
These are in no particular order or recomendation:

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