Ticks aren’t just a nuisance—they can also carry diseases that could be harmful such as: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis. Whether you’ve discovered one on you, a child or pet, learn how to remove and dispose of them safely and effectively. The early intervention helps to lower the risk of disease transmission and prevent the tick from becoming an additional threat to you.

Read here or prestopestcontrol.com for how to safely remove a tick the right way, here for what to do after a tick bite, and here for ticks bites of the more toxic variety.

Gather Your Tools

Before you try to dislodge the tick, you will need:

Tweezers with a fine tip (no, those dull tweezers in your bathroom won’t do it)
Nitrile or latex gloves (optional, but recommended)
Antiseptic solution (rubbing alcohol, iodine, or soap and water)
A small watertight container (such as a pill bottle, or plastic bag)
Tape or alcohol (for disposal of spider(s)if not being saved for identification)

Keep Calm and Move Fast

If you do find a tick, don’t panic. The longer a tick is attached, the greater a person’s risk of pathogens being transmitted, so removing ticks promptly is paramount. But hurry up the tick splits apart while the head remains with increased risk of disease.

And if it is imbedded in the skin make sure take it off carefully and ensure that all tick was removed, including the head and mouth parts.

Remove the Tick with Tweezers

Using fine-tipped tweezers:

Pull the tic as close to the surface of the skin as you can.
Apply a slow, even pull upwards. Do not twist, jerk or not squeeze as it may cause parts of the mouth to break and stay in the skin.
If mouthparts break off, attempt to remove them with tweezers. If you are not able to simply press them out, leave them be and the skin will heal around and expel them.

Clean The Area Clean this region as well as possible.

After the tick is removed:

Clean the bite site and your hands with soap and water.
Apply an antiseptic such as rubbing alcohol or iodine to the bite area to help prevent infection.
Just keep an eye on the lady bit for the next couple of weeks. CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER If you develop a rash, redness, or flu-like symptoms.

Determine If You’d Like to Save the Tick

It’s useful to save the tick for identification, particularly if symptoms of illness develop later. To do this:

Drop the tick in a sealed container or a zip-lock bag.
Throw in a little rubbing alcohol to keep it and wherever you’re storing it fresh for longer.
Mark the container with the date of the bite, and identify location (both on the body and geographically).
It may be related to hydrogen peroxide, but store in a cool place, and bring it with you if you see a doctor or vet.

Dispose of the Tick Properly (If Not Saving)

If you don’t intend to save the tick:

Tightly wrap it in tape and throw it in the trash.
Or you could just flush it down the toilet (even though this doesn’t necessarily kill it).
Manually, do not pop the tick with your fingers. This could expose you to germs and result in infectious fluids being left behind.

More Tips to Prevent Ticks

Apply insect repellent with DEET or permethrin on skin and clothes before venturing outside.
Favor long-sleeve shirts and pants while hiking or when tromping through wooded or grassy land.
Inspect yourself, your kids and your pets after being outside.
Maintain your yard and mow the lawn to keep it short, and weed out tall grasses and leaf litter.

Properly removing and disposing of a tick is a crucial part of preventing tick-related illness. By acting fast and paying attention to the proper technique to remove the tick, you can decrease the risk of infection and provide better care for the bite site. If in doubt or no symptoms occur, seek advice and/or treatment from a physician.