None of us want to have bugs in our homes but there are some that are worse than others. A good example of this are ticks, something that we would never want to find in our home.
We realize that ticks are a part of the environment and they do play a role, although we can’t really think of what it is at this point. In reality, they can be very dangerous and if they are in your home, they are putting you and your family at risk.
Ticks carry a number of different diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. You would not want to have one of those diseases because it can be a life-changing and debilitating issue.
This leads us to question, what do you do if you happen to find one in your home? There are a few things you should immediately do.
First of all, make sure that you identify the type of tick it is. This may mean isolating the take by putting it in a jar or a bag until you can get a professional opinion.
If the tick has not yet latched onto anyone, make sure that you use gloves when handling it. If it is coming in contact with any clothing or bedding, then wash it right away on high heat. Make sure that you also vacuum the area thoroughly.
It is very important to understand how to remove a tick if it has burrowed into the skin. Never, ever use heat to remove the tick because it can end up vomiting under your skin. You should also not smother the tick because it could die.
To remove the tick, gently grab it as close to the surface of the skin as possible with some tweezers. Pull slowly upward and away from the skin and continue to apply some gentle pressure until the tick eventually backs out of the skin altogether.
Be careful that you don’t pull the tick so hard that you pop its head off. This would allow the head to remain under the skin, along with any disease that it may be carrying.
After you remove the tick, continue to monitor the area for any sign of infection or a red ring. If you see any infection or ring, contact a doctor immediately.