Just seen this on Facebook. Have never had ticks around here so probably won't be able to test it out.....

Tick Removal

A nurse discovered a safe, easy way to remove ticks where
they automatically withdraw themselves when you follow her
simple instructions. Read this one as it could save you from
some major problems.

Spring is here and the ticks will soon be showing their heads.
Here is a good way to get them off you, your children,
or your pets. Give it a try.

A School Nurse has written the info below--good enough
to share--and it really works!

"I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best
way to remove a tick. This is great because it works in
those places where it's sometimes difficult to get to with
tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of
dark hair, etc."

"Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick
with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few
seconds (15-20); the tick will come out on its own and be
stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.

This technique has worked every time I've used it
(and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic
for the patient and easier for me.."

Also, if you just pull a tick off, their heads sometimes break off
and are left under the skin so this is much safer. Be aware

also that a tick with a white speck on its back is a Deer
Tick, these can cause Tick Fever so check yourself and
your family good if you see any of these!

"Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this
would be damaging in any way.
Please pass on. Everyone needs this helpful hint.
by: David Herold

I'd always been told that it was dangerous to smother a tick, as this would cause it disgorge it's stomach contents, and any pathogens it had into the host.

You could be right, I've never had to deal with ticks luckily :-)

I've always just used a tick twister and never had any trouble. :-)

DO NOT put anything on the tick

There is some very good advice about removing ticks here - from BADA UK.  The rest of the Tick Bite Prevention Week website is also worth a read

Tick twister here too!

Years ago, I was told to smother ticks with vaseline, they suffocate and fall off. Well it did work, especially when my children all had tiny ticks after visiting Exmoor (you can imagine how horrified I was!!). Then I learned about the dangers associated with doing this.

I've even got a twister kept at our caravan, so I'll never be without one when away. Invaluable things!

I've always lived in 'tick areas', and a very old vet years ago showed me how to remove them. Quite simply gently twist them ANTICLOCKWISE and they come out cleanly. This has never failed for me in all the time Ive been doing it. Before the advent of spot on treatment, it was a night time ritual in the summer, to sit and remove ticks before bedtime. Up to 15 on one dog sometimes! The sheepdogs would go through the dip with the sheep, but the Goldens used to get the hand picked treatment!

There are also special little plastic tick twisters you can buy, but the key appears to be the anticlockwise action. I have tried it the other way to test and they don't budge.
I have just read the advice from the above post, which appears to contradict itself, it says do not twist, but to pull out, then shows the plastic 'tick twister' which is an excellent tool and I would recommend this if your new to ticks... I would not recommend pulling the tick straight out at all. Also Advantix is fantastic, discussed on an earlier thread somewhere.

Just for the record, the info the OP quoted referred to ticks with a white mark, I feel that may be true for the USA but certainly not here in the UK.

In any case it is best to deter ticks in the first place, do go to BADA as already suggested..... They are an organisation dedicated to tick advice to reduce incidence of Borellosis and other tick borne diseases in the UK which are still not widely known. Wherever your dog picks them up, then you could too.

>There are also special little plastic tick twisters you can buy, but the key appears to be the anticlockwise action. I have tried it the other way to test and they don't budge.

Interestingly, on the O'Tom official website it shows ticks being removed using a clockwise twist as well as anti-clockwise!

Can't find it now, but saw a VERY interesting video clip a while back whereby someone is rubbing the abdomen of the tick in an anticlockwise direction (I think!) and the tick just popped out! I think the tick gets agitated and disorientated and pulls its head out of the host.

Absolutley fascinating and something well worth considering doing if you're stuck without a tick remover and want to get the critter out! Don't fancy touching one mind, but may consider it if I had no alternative.