By Dr. David Angelastro, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine, Shore Medical Center
Ticks aren’t just creepy, they’re strategic. They don’t fly or jump like other bugs. They wait, perched at the tips of tall grasses and brush, sensing the heat and movement of your body as you pass by. When the moment’s right, they latch on. It’s calculated, it’s efficient—and unfortunately, it’s becoming more common.
Warmer winters and longer breeding seasons mean these tiny parasites are sticking around longer, and so are the risks that come with them. In fact, July has already brought the highest number of tick-related ER visits in the U.S. since 2017, with the Northeast, including New Jersey, leading the nation.
Most of the patients we see in the Emergency Department aren’t sick yet, and that’s exactly what we want. They come in after finding a tick and want to know what to do next. That’s when we can be the most helpful, before symptoms start, when quick action can make a big difference.
So, let’s talk about exactly what to do if you or someone you care about gets bitten by a tick. Here’s what I tell my patients:
Step 1: Remove the Tick Promptly and Safely
If you find a tick on your body, the most important thing you can do is remove it right away. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward slowly and steadily. Don’t twist or jerk, or the mouthparts could break off and stay behind.
After removing the tick, wash the area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Then, dispose of the tick by sealing it in a bag, submerging it in alcohol, or flushing it. If you can, take a quick photo before discarding it. That can help us identify the type of tick later.
Step 2: Assess the Risk
Not every tick bite leads to illness, but certain factors can increase your risk. Ask yourself:
- Was it a deer tick (also called a blacklegged tick)?
- Was it attached for more than 24 hours?
- Did the bite happen in a wooded, grassy, or high-risk area?
If you answered yes to any of these, your risk of developing a tick-borne illness—especially Lyme disease—is higher.
Step 3: Know When to Seek Medical Care
Come to the Emergency Department or urgent care if:
- You can’t remove the tick completely.
- You develop a rash, fever, chills, fatigue, or joint or muscle aches.
- You notice a red area that expands or a bull’s-eye-shaped rash.
- The person is under age 10, over age 70, or immunocompromised.
- The tick was likely a deer tick and was attached for more than 24 hours.
In some cases, we can prescribe a single dose of antibiotics—usually doxycycline—to help prevent Lyme disease, but that only works if we start within 72 hours of the bite.
Step 4: Monitor for Symptoms
Even if you feel fine now, keep an eye out in the coming days and weeks. Fatigue, headache, joint pain, facial drooping, or even an irregular heartbeat could signal a tick-borne illness. If anything feels off, don’t wait. Call your doctor.
Step 5: Prevent Future Bites
Prevention is key. When spending time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas:
- Wear long sleeves and pants, and tuck your pants into your socks.
- Use insect repellent with DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- After coming inside, do a full-body tick check—don’t forget behind the knees, underarms, and scalp.
- Shower promptly, and toss your clothes in a hot dryer for at least 10 minutes.
We’re Here to Help
I always tell people that you don’t have to wait until you’re sick to get checked out. If you find a tick and you're unsure about next steps, reach out to your primary care provider, visit Shore Urgent Care, or come see us in the Emergency Department. We’d rather see you early, give you peace of mind, and keep you healthy for the rest of the season.
Ticks may be small, but they’re smart. You can be smarter. With quick action and the right care, a tick bite doesn’t have to turn into something more serious.
