I like to think of myself as having love and understanding towards all creatures. Even spiders and snakes – fairly common phobias among humans – don’t freak me out to the point where I’ll actively take steps to avoid them. You could say that I have a high threshold where tolerance for creepy crawlies is concerned… just not with ticks.

No, shameful as it is for me to admit, I wouldn’t lose an ounce of sleep if ticks vanished from the world tomorrow, never to be seen again. The thing is, they’re not just annoying (not to mention invasive and, well, enough to make most people’s skin-crawl) but they can actually be dangerous.

1. Identify and Isolate
Figure out what kind of tick it is if possible, and keep kids and pets away from the area until it’s dealt with.

2. Protect Yourself
Wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid contact.

3. Clean Thoroughly
Wash clothes or bedding on high heat and vacuum floors, especially crevices and corners.

4. Remove the Tick Safely
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull gently upward. Avoid twisting to keep the head intact.

5. Disinfect and Dispose
Clean the bite area with alcohol or soap and water. Kill the tick with alcohol or flush it.

6. Monitor for Symptoms
Watch the bite site and the affected person for signs of illness.