The summer weather brings more opportunities for outdoor activities and gardening. It also brings more insects like mosquitoes and ticks. Like mosquitoes, ticks feed on the blood of their host and can carry tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.

Tick-borne illnesses can be potentially life-threatening. You must know what to do if you are bitten by a tick. Here are some tips on what to do if you find a tick.

Tip #1: Wash Your Clothes and Hair Immediately

Ticks are small, brownish insects that latch themselves onto your skin. Their small size and love for small spaces can make them hard to spot. When working or playing outdoors, thoroughly check yourself and pets for ticks. If you find one, carefully remove it with tweezers and wash your clothes immediately. Shower and thoroughly scrub your scalp as soon as possible.

Tip #2: Monitor the Bite Site

While most tick bites are harmless, monitoring the bite will allow you to see the first signs of Lyme disease if they start to develop. Tick bites will result in a small, red welt similar to a mosquito bite.

If you see a ring or rash forming around the bite site, call your healthcare provider right away. Rashes associated with Lyme disease typically form within 3-14 days of a bite.

Tip #3: Save the Tick

After you remove a tick, save it for your healthcare provider to test. You can keep the tick in a sealed container or plastic bag so your healthcare provider can test the tick for bacteria.

Tip #4: Educate Yourself on Tick-borne Illnesses

If you are bitten by a tick, educate yourself on Lyme disease symptoms so you’ll know what to do. Symptoms of Lyme disease may include fatigue, fever, headaches and chills. Since Lyme disease symptoms tend to mimic the flu, tell your doctor if you have had contact with a tick.

Luckily, most cases of Lyme disease are treated with antibiotics and usually not life-threatening. Severe cases can happen so it is crucial to get treatment if symptoms develop.

Tip #5: Call Professional Tick Control

If you keep finding ticks in and around your home, it might be time to hire a professional to inspect your yard. At ABC Exterminating Inc., we are experts when it comes to tick control and can help keep your home pest-free. Contact us today for an estimate or give us a call to learn more about our tick control services.