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Year after year the occurrence of ticks only increases and, unfortunately, so does the number of infected people. For this reason it is necessary to protect not only our pets but also ourselves. Although many of us mistakenly believe that ticks occur only in the forest, they actually occur in meadows and even in our garden.
What should you do when you bring an uninvited guest home from a walk or from relaxing in the garden?
Disinfection
As soon as you notice a tick that has bitten you, first spray the affected area with a disinfectant that should be in your first-aid kit. This disinfectant must contain alcohol, or you can use spirits or eau de Cologne. Many people prefer to use oil because ticks are then easier to pull out, but this significantly increases the risk of Lyme disease, because the grease prevents it from breathing. A tick that slowly begins to suffocate may expel the contents of its internal organs, which contain the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
Tweezers
Never try to pull a tick out with your bare hands. Always use tweezers that have a rounded or blunt edge. You can use plastic or metal, whichever you prefer. Try to hold the tick as close to the skin as possible and always wear gloves when pulling it out.
Twisting
One of the myths about removing a tick is that we should rotate it clockwise when pulling it out. Unfortunately the opposite is true; it won’t help even if you turn it the other way. The best way to remove an engorged tick is to rock it to the right and left until it releases. Although you may be able to remove the tick more quickly, you risk crushing or rupturing the tick and infecting other areas. Once you remove the tick, disinfect the area again.
Disposal
Now that you have removed the tick, it must be disposed of safely
Soak the extracted tick in a small amount of disinfectant, wrap it in a tissue and flush it down the toilet. Definitely do not try to stomp on it or burn it and especially do not crush it between your fingers. All of these methods can cause it to rupture. If you pull out a tick in nature where you cannot flush it down the toilet, bury it in the ground or throw it into water.
Finally, don’t forget to disinfect the tweezers and wash your hands thoroughly to prevent unnecessary complications.
