Lyme Disease

KIDS

What if a Tick Bites Me?

Will you get sick if a tick bites you?  Not necessarily.  Most ticks don’t carry Lyme disease.  Even if they do carry Lyme disease, a tick has to suck on you for 1-2 days before it can give you Lyme disease.  So, if you find a tick on you, you’ll want to get it off quickly.

• Get an adult to help you.
• Get a pair of pointed-tip tweezers
• Grab the tick’s mouth with the tweezers. Grab it as close to your skin as possible.
• Pull the tick off in a straight motion.  Don’t twist it or wiggle it around.
• Put the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it.
• Wash the bite well with soap and water.
• Have your parent call your doctor.

(Source: FDA)

Some people will tell you to burn the tick with a match or cover it in Vaseline or alcohol.  This will not get the tick off you and will only make things worse!

Watch Out: Look at the bite often.  If you see a rash around it that looks like a bull’s-eye, tell an adult like your parent, teacher, camp counselor, or school nurse.

Does your skin look like a dartboard?  Tell someone!

What are Ticks?
What’s the Big Deal?
How do I Avoid Ticks?
What if a Tick Bites Me?
What is Lyme Disease?
Learn More About Lyme Disease

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