[pct-l] ticks-incidence of Lyme disease.

[tangent at meinfelder.com (Tangent)]

At 04:22 PM 3/1/2004 -0800, Steve Courtway wrote:
>I don't think I read anyone chime in that the safest way to remove a tick is
>to kill the tick by burning it with your lighter before attempting to pull
>it out so the head does not get left behind in your skin.

I do not mean nit-pick, but the National Institute for Health (NIH) 
specifically recommends against removing ticks with a match. The NIH list 
of DO NOTs is as follows:

DO NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object.
DO NOT twist the tick when pulling it out.
DO NOT try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, 
vaseline, or similar material.

Instead, the NIH recommends:

1. Grasp the tick close to its head or mouth with tweezers or your 
fingernails. Pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. Be careful 
not to leave the head embedded in the skin.

2. Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water.

3. Save the tick in a jar and watch carefully for the next week or two for 
signs of Lyme disease.

4. If all the parts of the tick cannot be removed, get medical help.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007211.htm

Tangent