You know the old saying: “April showers bring May flowers,” but it also brings along ticks!  Tick season typically runs from April through September, but that does not mean you should hide in the house on those beautiful spring and summer days. Reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against tick borne infections, you can do this by wearing protective clothing in light colors, tuck pant legs into your socks (very stylish) and by staying near the center of hiking trails.

If you do find a tick stuck to your skin despite your best efforts of avoidance, do not panic!  Follow the steps below to remove the tick, or stop by and see your nurse (she knows what to do).

How to remove a tick:

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

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.

After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water. You can also use rubbing alcohol.

If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor. Be sure to tell the doctor about your recent tick bite, when the bite occurred, and where you most likely acquired the tick.

Have a Happy Spring,

Nurse K