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Winter is almost over. With the thawing comes the greening of the landscape which happens shortly after what Bostonians call our beloved “mud phase”. And with the greening of the landscape comes ticks. This article is about how to remove ticks properly if you get one on yourself or your furry friends.

The goal of tick removal is to get rid of the live insect quickly, and in one piece. While the squeamish at heart may be tempted to give the little bugger a quick yank and be done with it, leaving parts of the tick embedded in your flesh will most likely cause an infection. With patience in mind, follow these simple steps (taken from the FDA):

1. Wash your hands.

2. Sterilize a pair of tweezers. This can be done with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab or by running a lit match beneath them.

3. Grab the tick as close to your skin’s surface as possible and pull slowly. Do not jerk! You want the tick to help you, by backing out as you’re pulling. If the tick does not back out on its own, stop pulling, and add a few drops of rubbing alcohol, cooking oil, or petroleum jelly to the surface of the skin. The added moisture will begin to drown the tick, causing him to back out.

4. Wait. Within five to ten minutes, the tick should begin to loosen its hold.

5. Pull again. Using the tweezers again, gently pull the tick from your skin.

6. Examine the tick. Make sure you both remove the head and body of the tick. If you suspect the tick is a disease carrier, preserve the tick in a zip lock bag for examination by your physician.

7. Cleansing. Once the tick is out, wash the skin area with antibacterial soap or swab affected area with an antiseptic. Any itching, rash or irritation can be treated with hydrocortisone or antiseptic creams.