Good post! Got me thinking though.....won't a tweezers squeeze a tick and cause the same thing?
Dan
PS...
like tics! LOL
C/P
The easiest, and safest, way to remove a tick is to grab it by the mouthparts and pull straight up. Obviously, the difficult part is to securely grab the mouthparts! Here are a few suggestions:
Use one of the the new tick removal tools that slip over the tick and pinch the mouthparts. Or, use a loop of strong sewing thread or fishing line to "lasso" the mouthparts by passing the loop over the back of the tick and pulling on the ends of the line until the tick pops off. A stiff fishing line works better. Or, you can also use tweezers to carefully snag the mouthparts but be careful not to stab your "patient" with the pointed end.
If the tick has embedded itself into soft tissue you may not be able to see the mouthparts. In this case, grab the tick's body as gently as possible and twist it out trying not to squeeze it any harder than necessary. Don't worry if the mouthparts break off in the wound; at worst they will cause a minor secondary infection.
Finally, clean the wound and apply an over-the-counter antibiotic. Keep an eye on the bite for a few days to make sure any infection does not get worse. If the area around the wound looks inflamed or is tender or if a "bulls eye" rash develops and grows seek medical attention.
