Icky Ticks

Question:

What is the approved procedure for removing a tick? They used to be an uncommon varmint in Western Washington, but this year, I’ve already picked up three. Fortunately, I observed them before they attached. Ick! Ick! Ick!

Submitted by – Petrina, Ashford, WA

Answer:

Those highly knowledgeable people at the Centers for Disease Control recommend only one way to remove an embedded tick, and here it is: Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the little thing at your skin line, perpendicular to the long axis of the tick, and pull gently straight out. Then wash the site with soap and water. Other methods of removal, by the way, increase the chance the tick will shove some germs into your body as it is being removed.