Tick bites are at a peak in these hot summer months, as are tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and Babesiosis. . It's during a tick bite that transmission of bacteria/parasites from the tick straight into our blood stream can occur, causing these tick-borne illnesses. Removing the tick timely is vital for disease prevention. The keys 🔑🔑 to removing a tick are: ☝️ to remove the tick as soon as can be safely done (pathogen transmission usually requires at least 24 hours of attachment) ✌️ to do so without expelling its intestinal contents (i.e. the pathogens), by grabbing it at its head and NOT its body... with tweezers (using our fingers is a no-no and pretty much guarantees grabbing the body). . Look out for an upcoming post where we'll learn about tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, its first signs, as well as how to prevent these pesky tick bites to begin with 😷😷 When it comes to our health, knowledge is power 💪 and prevention is key 🔑