When you find yourself face-to-face with a Lone Star Tick, don’t panic (like I did). Instead, stay calm and take action quickly to minimize the risk of transmission. The longer that tick is attached, the greater the chance it’ll spread some unwanted nastiness. So, what’s the right move? Grab those fine-tipped tweezers and gently remove the tick as close to your skin as possible. Don’t twist or yank – you don’t want those mouthparts breaking off!
Once you’ve safely removed the tick, clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. And for goodness’ sake, don’t crush that tick with your fingers unless you want a bunch of gross pathogens on your hands (ew). Instead, save it! Tape it to a card or seal it in a container so your doctor can examine it if needed. Don’t forget to note the date and location where the tick was attached
Keep an eye on the spot for the next few weeks. Watch out for any signs of trouble – a rash, redness, fatigue, fever, or muscle aches could be indicators something’s amiss. If anything weird shows up, don’t hesitate – call your doctor immediately. And yes, I may have been a nervous wreck when this happened to me, but that doesn’t mean the advice is wrong!