Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

7 Bleeding, Wound Care and Trauma

Removing a tick • With tweezers, carefully grasp the tick by the head, as close to the skin as possible. Do not grasp the tick by its body. • Pull slowly and evenly away from the skin. Do not crush the tick as this can force infection into the patient. Do not touch the tick directly. • If tweezers are unavailable, use gloves or a plastic bag over your hand and try and grasp with your fingernails. Do not worry if the head of the tick remains embedded in the skin. • Wear eye protection if the tick is engorged with blood. Be careful not to crush it as blood may spray into your eyes or mouth. • Save the tick to show to medical personnel Clean the bite area with soap and water. Use an antiseptic to avoid infection. If signs of infection or other symptoms develop, seek medical care.

Ticks

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