### First Aid Steps for Removing Ticks 1. **Remove the Tick Immediately**: If you find a tick attached to your skin, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick, which can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. 2. **Clean the Area**: After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water. 3. **Dispose of the Tick**: Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers. 4. **Monitor for Symptoms**: Watch for signs of Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses, such as rash or fever, over the next few weeks. If you develop any symptoms, see a healthcare provider. 5. **Seek Medical Attention**: If the tick has burrowed into the skin, or if the head, mouthparts, or other tick remains cannot be removed, seek medical attention immediately.