How to Check Yourself & Others For Ticks

Why is it important to check for ticks? 

It is important to check for ticks because they may carry illnesses that can be passed onto the person they bite. For example, if a tick has Lyme disease and bites a person, they may spread this debilitating disease to them. Peak activity for adult deer ticks is occurring now, lasting from late October into early November. 

How should I check for ticks? 

Ticks are most likely to be found on the warmest parts of your body, due to their love for warm temperatures. This includes around the in and around the ears, around the waist, on the scalp or in hair, under the arms, between the legs or inside the belly button. 

This diagram should give you a better understanding of which spots to look for ticks: 

How should I remove a tick? 

1. The correct way to remove a from your body or someone else’s body with the use of fine point tweezers. Using this tool will help prevent tearing the tick’s body and spreading whatever infections it has around the open area. 
2. Grasp the tick with the tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull upward steadily. 
3. Wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water. 

Here at ohDEER, we have created the initiative T.I.C.K. which stands for take initiative to check kids. Our goal is to educate kids and parents on how to check for ticks and raise awareness about the importance of doing so! We also offer an ALL NATURAL tick and mosquito repellant that is safe for kids, pets and your yard! Visit our home page for more information.