Pretty much everyone knows the drill. A mosquito bites you and a few minutes later, a swollen, red, itchy bump appears. Here’s what to do:

Try not to scratch

• Mosquito bites can easily become infected
• Instead, try applying ice or an over-the-counter anti-itch cream to soothe the bite area

Prevention is the best course of action

• Avoid getting in bad situations by using insect repellent and wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• There’s even research that says mosquitos are attracted to certain colors—avoid red and black in favor of white and green, perhaps their least favorite colors

More annoying than dangerous, but…

• Be aware that there are a few diseases like West Nile that can cause more serious illness, so contact your healthcare provider if you develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash

Bee (and wasp, hornets and yellow jacket) stings can really hurt and cause itching and swelling, too. Here’s what to do:

Careful with extraction

• If there is a stinger in the skin, remove it gently
• Scrape it out with something that’s not sharp: a finger nail or the edge of a credit card
• Wash the area well with soap and water

Treat it with stuff at hand

• Apply ice to help relieve itching, swelling, and pain
• Try over-the-counter treatments: a cortisone cream, an antihistamine cream, or a paste of baking soda and water
• Treat severe itching with an oral antihistamine and pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever

Know your allergies

Bee stings can be serious for people who allergic. They’re considered true emergencies and you should call 911 right away.

• National Poison Control warns that anaphylaxis—the name for severe allergic reactions—can cause trouble breathing within minutes to an hour
• The victim could have throat and chest tightness and feel faint
• Hives (red, itchy bumps on the skin) may pop up away from the bite
• If the person has an “Epi-Pen” kit to treat allergic reactions, start using it immediately and follow package instructions

Even if you’re not allergic…

• Multiple stings might also require emergency care
• The quantity of venom injected all at once could cause nausea, dizziness, faintness, and even seizures
• Over the long term, a severe bee sting allergy could be treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy—talk to your healthcare provider

Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood, so do a quick check over your clothes and body after being outside.

Finding a tick on your body might be scary, but health officials say that there is no need to visit the emergency room or healthcare provider to remove a tick. Here’s what to do:

Oh pluck!

• To pluck a tick out, use clean tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible
• Pull the tick upward with steady, even pressure
• Don’t twist or jerk the tick, which can cause the tick’s mouth to stay lodged 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

Wash up

• Clean your hands and the bite area with rubbing alcohol, soap, and water

Get rid of the thing

• Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet
• Never crush a tick with your fingers

Be watchful in the aftermath

• Watch for symptoms for 30 days after a tick bite and tell your provider if you get sick
• Symptoms of a serious issue may include
• fever
• chills
• rash
• headache
• joint pain
• muscle aches
• fatigue
• rash
• Most people with Lyme disease will have a rash that starts as redness near the tick bite area and can sometimes grow to look like a bull’s-eye.