There’s nothing that’ll induce a case of the heebie-jeebies quicker than a creepy crawler, and lets face it – ticks are among the preeminent creepy crawlers in our neck of the woods. While using repellant products and being vigilant can help prevent tick bites, this summer you may still have to remove a tick from yourself or your child. Follow these instructions from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.

2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.

3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.

4. Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.

Find more information at www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html