To be freaked out by a tick on my DD!

[ADHDHDHDHD]

Wow she had been playing outside, said her back hurt. Yes a tick was about to bite!

I ran to get my - as recommended by Mumsnet- tick remover tool from the first aid kit. Removed said tick successfully.

It's now drowning in some gin (that we don't like, haven't wasted Hendricks on it don't worry)

People- get a proper tick remover tool!

Ticks are freaky and I hate that the washing machine doesn't kill them - nothing worse than finding one crawling on you after hanging up a wash. I would check again tomorrow in case any others.

The only I'd get is great. A swap of alcohol and careful tweezer use works if you don't have the widget, though.

My DS is a total tick magnet he has had more than 10 and he’s only 8. We have the remover tools everywhere: in the hiking backpack, handbag, glovebox etc

No way!
Is there a better way to get them off? Like scrape it off face first, or back end off first?

Can you share the link for the remover please? There are so many options! Thanks!

Is there a better way to get them off? Like scrape it off face first, or back end off first?*

No. It's important to use a tick remover and never scrape, because you mustnt leave the head in by accident. That very important.

If the tick was 'about to bite' why did you need a remover tool? If it hadn't yet bitten it wasn't attached.

You shouldnt be scraping anything, that's really not how you remove them.

You need to 'unscrew' them so the head comes out cleanly.

@surreygirl1987 The best thing I've found is the hook thing from the vets. Think it's called a tick twister. Usually comes in a pack of a couple of sizes.

I found a really good YouTube vid that shows how to remove them by gently circling the tick with the tip of your finger until it lets go and falls out. Then kill in alcohol or mouthwash. Disgusting but works, and no risk of losing the head. God they're disgusting 🤢

Yes, we use the green tick twister, comes in different sizes for small or big ticks. Very important not to use tweezers, alcohol or scraping it. They’re everywhere this year and in our garden for the first time.

Don’t twist them, grip as closely as you can to your skin and slowly pull out perpendicular to your skin.

It takes 36ish hours for them to start transmitting anything to you. So we always do a check every day he’s been somewhere risky. Armpits are a classic spot and behind ears

Make sure you twist them out anticlockwise. Apparently that's how they attach and if you don't do this or just yank them out, they eject their stomach contents into your blood stream - so I've been told. You have to twist them at least 360 degrees. I've removed loads, mainly from pets, and use my fingers, but I understand that not everyone will want to touch them. I usually flush them wrapped in loo paper, but I'll use alcohol from now on.

We live in a high risk area and dh and I have had 3 between us this week! Unfortunately the head is still stuck in from my last one, according to Google it should drop out by itself. 🧐

I picked a piece of wild grass whilst waiting for my DD and there were 4 ticks on it they are absolutely rife st the moment.

Many people are saying to twist. Please do not twist!!

www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/about-ticks/tick-removal/

Apparently as we are having less and less hard frosts now, more than usual survive the Winter and they are becoming more commonplace (in the UK).

So much bad advice on one thread already.

Get a proper tick removing tool or tweezers. Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards firmly and steadily. No need to be twisting - more likely to leave the head in that way. If you do leave the head in, it will probably come out of it's own accord (because your body is designed to expel foreign bodies) but keep an eye out for infection.

Bloody HATE ticks!

Never squeeze the bodies as they can vomit into your wound, which can make you more likely to get Lyme disease if it is carrying it

But the instructions there do say to twist?! Albeit using the correct tool.

That info you linked said you DO twist a tick tool, but DON'T twist with pointed tweezers!

Removed masses of ticks by twisting anticlockwise and have never left the head in.

From the British Trust for Ornithology: "remove the tick in an anti-clockwise motion to ensure the mouth parts are not left in the skin (do not twist if using tweezers)".

https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/shared_documents/volunteers/ticks_lymes_leaflet.pdf

But please do what you feel is best.

God I fucking hate ticks. Don't know why I opened this thread.

Jesus christ - where are you all based? Hopefully
not NI!!

I've removed countless ticks from pets and twisting is the way to go, 100%

You twist, they stop biting, you pull them away from the skin.

If you just yank them while they're still attached, you'll leave the head behind.

The advice is to use a tick remover and twist.