OPINION:
As a pediatrician and mother who has lived and practiced in tick-laden areas, I devised a way of preserving ticks removed from humans or pets that both kills the insect and allows for easy later identification if necessary (“CDC: Protect against tick bites with treated clothing,” Web, May 28).
After removal, take a piece of Scotch tape and fold it over the tick, making a sort of sandwich of it. This kills the tick by suffocation and preserves it so that it may be identified if symptoms of illness arise in the bitten human or animal. If the tick is highly engorged, you may need two pieces of tape placed at right angles to preserve the insect.
DIANA WASSERMAN
Bedford, Massachusetts
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