How to Remove a Tick

Knowing how to remove a tick is a skill everyone should learn. If you're outdoors a lot, it is a good idea to always carry a jackknife set with you that is equipped with a set of tweezers so you'll be ready to handle a tick bite even when away from home.

When you spot a tick biting you, you will need to use a pair of tweezers to grasp the head, or mouthparts, of the tick. Gently pull the tick off of you without jerking or twisting. If the tick separates, leaving the mouthparts still attached to your skin, you will need to use the tweezers to remove the mouthparts. If you cannot remove all of the mouthparts, see a doctor for assistance.

Some people think that you should twist a tick to make it release its hold on you, but the latest thinking on this strategy is that it is best to gently pull without twisting.

If you are concerned about the tick releasing its hold on you and you have patience, you might want to smear a coat of Vaseline on the tick and wait for the tick to let go of your skin itself. Usually a tick will release its hold on you within ten minutes of being coated with petroleum jelly, as the tick needs to breathe.

Once you've removed the tick, place it in a clear baby food jar filled with alcohol. The alcohol will kill the tick and preserve it so you can show it to the doctor should you start experiencing medical complications that could be linked to the tick. If you don't have alcohol on hand, you can wrap the tick in a piece of clear plastic tape. Do not squish the tick; the tick may contain infectious material you will not want to come in contact with.