Ticks are an unfortunate reality during the warm months of spring, summer, and even early fall, and since these are times when people tend to spend a lot of time outdoors, the chances of being bitten and potentially exposed to Lyme disease increase. There are other factors at play too, such as where you live; For example, people in the tri-state area have some of the highest risks in the country. New York reportedly had 19 percent of all reported cases between 2019 and 2022, Pennsylvania with 17 percent and New Jersey with 11 percent. On the other hand, Hawaii and Oklahoma reported zero cases during the same period.

Still, it’s best to practice safety first and wear long pants and long sleeves during hikes whenever possible (light colors to increase visibility), tuck pants into socks, and use preventative sprays.

However, if you find a tick burrowing into your skin, time is of the essence. These are the best ways to handle tick bites (and some things you should definitely never do).

First things first. Do not try to “suffocate” the tick with Vaseline or even nail polish. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHP), not only is this not effective, but it can keep the tick on longer and make it harder to catch and remove. And as we will see, when it comes to tick bites, we must act quickly. The CHP also advises against attempting to burn the tick with a match; Not only is that unsafe and risks burns, it can also cause the tick to react by vomiting saliva and other potentially harmful fluids.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), you should immediately grab the tick with your fingers or, if you have it on hand, with a clean pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Do not wait to receive medical assistance because the longer the tick remains on you, the greater the risk that it can infect you. So move quickly but be careful not to squeeze the tick’s body. Doing so can cause you to vomit your body fluids onto the broken skin, which can also lead to infection.

Once you have it, pull the tick up. Don’t shake or move. It is recommended to press the skin on both sides of the tick so that the area is tighter and less likely to attach.

Once it has been removed, wash the skin area as you would a cut to avoid further irritation. Use soap and warm water or isopropyl alcohol. Also resist the temptation to crush the tick (again, you don’t want any liquid dripping anywhere near you). Instead, shred it on a tissue or piece of tape, pierce it with a needle, or soak it in ethanol. And don’t flush it down the toilet.

Over the next few days, watch for symptoms that could possibly mean Lyme disease, such as flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, body aches), red earlobes, neck and back pain, and a flat, round, pink rash at the bite area.

Go ahead and touch the grass without fear.

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