Public Info to Use - Cub Scout Pack 14 (Elgin, Illinois)

Proper Tick Removal

The mouth parts of a tick are barbed and may remain embedded and lead to infection at the bite site if not removed promptly.

Do not burn the tick with a match or cover it with petroleum jelly or nail polish.

Do not use bare hands to remove the tick because tick secretions may carry disease.

The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it firmly with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick. If tweezers are not available, grasp the tick with a piece of tissue or cloth or whatever can be used as a barrier between your fingers and the tick.

Ticks can be safely disposed of by placing them in a container of soapy water or alcohol, sticking them to tape or flushing them down the toilet. If you want to have the tick identified, put it in a small vial of alcohol.