Living Lyme

Hope is where it all begins

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    • History of Lyme Disease
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    • How to Remove Ticks
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    • What is an LLMD?
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    • Herxheimer Reaction
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    • Dining With Lyme
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How to Remove Ticks

It is important to make sure you are prepared and know how to remove a tick before you find one on you. I would highly recommend printing one of the tick removal charts. Put it somewhere where you can find it. You may also be interested in the Tick Removal Kits and Tick Testing Laboratories.

Tick Removal No-No’s!

Do not:

Burn tick.

Use gasoline on tick.

Use alcohol on tick.

Use any substance on tick.

Twist, squeeze, or otherwise agitate the tick.

Note: Irritating the tick can cause it to regurgitate into your bloodstream, including any infectious disease it is carrying.

Proper Steps to Remove a Tick

Grasp tick as close to the mouth parts as possible with tweezers or tick remover.

Pull tick straight out.

Be sure head parts have been removed 100%.

Thoroughly clean skin with antiseptic.

Wash and Disinfect tweezers and hands thoroughly.

ALWAYS see a physician for possible diagnosis, testing and treatment, especially if tick parts remain after removal.

SAVE THE TICK! And have it tested.
(Save all those empty medicine bottles for transporting ticks for testing!)

Do not flush it or otherwise dispose of it.

Note: Although tick and blood lab testing is not 100% accurate, this is the BEST way to know if you have been exposed to Lyme Borrelia or any possible co-infections.

If the tick has any of these diseases, you NEED to be treated for them immediately.

DO NOT WAIT for symptoms or a rash to occur!!!!!!!!!!

Tick Removal Kits

Ticked Off Tick Removal Kit

Pro-Tick Remedy Tick Removal Kit

Tick Testing Laboratories

IGeneX

Clongen Laboratories

LDA Tick Testing

Lymenet.org Tick Testing

Tick Encounter Tick Testing

 

Remove_Ticks
Image courtesy of PLoS Journals at Wikimedia Commons

Proper removal of ticks decreases your chances of infection.

Lyme Disease Prevention Resources

  • Lyme Disease Association/Prevention
  • Lyme Disease.Org/Prevention
  • Lyme Info.net/Prevention
  • Lyme Research Alliance/Prevention
  • Stop Ticks.org
  • TBDA/Prevention
  • The Deer-To Fear or Not to Fear
  • Tick Encounter
  • Tick Identification Chart
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