If you find a tick... If you spend time outdoors, you are apt to pick up a tick from time to time. Don’t panic if you do. Medical experts differ on the time it takes for a tick to infect a host- ranging from 1 hour to up to 30 hours after the bite for infection to occur. If you perform a daily tick check, you greatly reduce your chances of contracting Lyme disease. Here’s how to remove a tick:

Using a pair of fine pointed tweezers, grasp the tick as close as possible to the skin. Pull straight out with a steady motion. A tick’s mouthpart is barbed like a fish-hook. It may take several minutes of applying steady pressure for the tick to let go. Avoid squishing the tick or pulling side-to side. Once removed:

• Wash the site thoroughly with soap and water, disinfect with antiseptic.
• If black-legged tick was engorged, contact your physician for treatment.
• Early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease may include an expanding red rash, flu-like symptoms, and/or joint pain and swelling. Only 40% to 70% of Lyme disease victims may develop a rash within two days to four weeks. If untreated, more severe symptoms may develop, sometimes months to years later.
• Record the date on a calendar that the tick was removed.
• The Vector-borne Disease Laboratory at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute offers free tick identification [they do not test submitted ticks] tick submission form
• Send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) for a free Tick Identification Card to:
• Mainely Ticks 48 William Knight Road, Windham, ME 04062

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