I like to think I\u2019m pretty tolerant of all creatures\u2014even spiders and snakes don\u2019t bother me. But ticks? That\u2019s where I draw the line.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re not just annoying and invasive\u2014they can be dangerous, carrying diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Depending on where you live, the season, and if you have pets, the risk of ticks in your home can be high.<\/p>\n
So what should you do if you find one?<\/p>\n
1. Identify and isolate:<\/strong> 2. Protect yourself:<\/strong> 3. Clean thoroughly:<\/strong> 4. Remove the tick:<\/strong> 5. Monitor the bite:<\/strong> I like to think I\u2019m pretty tolerant of all creatures\u2014even spiders and snakes don\u2019t bother me. But ticks? That\u2019s where I draw the line. They\u2019re not just annoying and invasive\u2014they can be dangerous, carrying diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Depending on where you live, the season, and if you have pets,…<\/p>\n
Figure out what kind of tick it is (black-legged, dog tick, etc.) and keep kids and pets away from the area.<\/p>\n
Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling ticks to avoid direct contact.<\/p>\n
Wash clothes or bedding the tick touched on high heat. Vacuum carefully, especially in corners and crevices.<\/p>\n
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick close to the skin and pull upward slowly\u2014don\u2019t twist or jerk. Clean the bite area with alcohol or soap and water. Dispose of the tick in alcohol or flush it.<\/p>\n
Keep an eye on the bite and the person bitten for any symptoms of illness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"