Bee stings and ticks

With outdoor weather comes outdoor critters... bees and ticks. The LA times recommends applying an onion to a bee sting as a fresh cut onion can ease the pain by breaking down some of the chemicals responsible for inflammation.  Others recommend toothpaste and ice. I have yet to be stung by a bee.. knock on wood... but if that unfortunate circumstance occurs, I'll know just what to do.  (via Lifehacker, via LA Times)

On another note... ticks. From Real Simple...

According to the CDC, here's how to do remove a tick:

DO:
*Remove a tick from your skin as soon as you notice it.
*Use fine-tipped tweezers to firmly grasp the tick very close to your skin.
*With a steady motion, pull the tick away from your skin. Then clean your skin, and hands, with soap and warm water.

DON'T:
*Use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products to remove a tick.
*Be alarmed if the tick’s mouth remain in the skin. Once the mouthparts are removed from the rest of the tick, it can no longer transmit Lyme disease.
*Squeeze or puncture the body of the tick because it can contain bacteria.