Visits to emergency rooms for tick bites are higher than normal in many parts of the country right now, according to the CDC's Tick Bite Tracker.   

In all regions except the South Central United States, weekly rates of ER visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017.  

In advance of Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May, the CDC and local officials from the Logan County Health District are urging the public to take steps to protect themselves and their families from tick bites, and the serious diseases they can cause, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome. 

"Tick season is here and these tiny biters can make you seriously sick,” Alison Hinckley, PhD, epidemiologist and Lyme disease expert with CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases.  

“The good news is you have options to help prevent tick bites when you spend time outdoors: you can wear EPA-registered insect repellent and permethrin-treated clothing, do tick checks after being outdoors and remove attached ticks as quickly as possible.  

“These simple steps can go a long way in protecting you and your family from diseases spread by ticks. And if you develop a rash or fever in the days to weeks after a bite, or after being in an area with ticks, seek medical care promptly." 

Removing attached ticks within 24 hours can help prevent Lyme disease, health officials emphasized.  

The Logan County Health District shared this week via social media practical tips for how to remove a tick from the skin: 

1. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. 
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal. 
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, soap and water. 
4. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by one of these methods: putting it in alcohol; placing it in a sealed bag/container; wrapping it tightly in tape; or flushing it down the toilet. 

Don’t use nail polish, petroleum jelly, or a hot match to make the tick detach. 

If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor: 
• Tell the doctor about your recent tick bite; 
• When the bite occurred; and 
• Where you most likely acquired the tick.