
The things you should absolutely avoid when it comes to removing ticks are some of the old wives’ tale removal remedies. “You want to get the whole tick out in one piece if you can,” he said.
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Murphree said that if you pinch too forcefully and leave parts of the tick still embedded in your skin that your immune system will rid your body of the tick bits, but that it could take one or two months. “Get a hold of them as close as where they’re embedded to your skin as you can, turn them up at a 90-degree angle, and slowly pull until they come out,” he said. He has a special interest in entomology and recommends using tweezers for tick removal. Steve Murphree is a biology professor at Belmont University. Most of the time that tick will come out and disengage very easily.”ĭr. Don’t jerk it because you may pull the body off the tick and leave the head intact. “The approved method is to take some tissue like kleenex, fold it, grasp the body of the tick firmly, but not too hard, and then a steady firm withdrawal. “Number three, if you find a tick, remove it gently and steadily,” Schaffner said. The third step need only be taken if you actually find a tick. “Look on your own body particularly in all the crevices, in your groin, under your arms, below your belt.” He suggested that you have someone else check your scalp, your back and other places that you cannot easily inspect. “Number two when you come back from having your fun out there or your yard work, do a tick check,” he Schaffner said. The second step is for after those activities are done. The CDC states that repellant with at least 20 percent DEET content is good. You ought to use it and make sure your kids use it when they go out.” It will contain a compound called DEET and that is the active compound. “Remember what you’re going to do and get some tick-repellent at your local supermarket or drug store and…make sure that as you look at the can it actually states that it is designed to repel ticks. “The key elements are really very simple,” he said. The first step should be taken before engaging in outdoor activities. He said that there are three steps everyone should take when it comes to ticks.

William Schaffner is an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University. While experts consulted by the Brentwood Home Page said it was too early to tell precisely how acute tick season would be in Tennessee this year, they did stress the importance of being aware and prepared for the health risks posed by ticks.ĭr. There have also been some posts on local social media where residents have mentioned finding ticks in their backyards.

In recent weeks there have been media reports from different parts of the country stating this summer could up to be a particularly active one for ticks and for tick-borne illnesses such as lyme disease. This unfortunately means more time being exposed to disease-carrying ticks.
