Avoid bloodsuckers, lightning bolts, and other holiday weekend buzzkills.

If you see lightning, you should already be indoors.

RODALE NEWS EMMAUS, PA— It’s the first big holiday of summer—are you sure you’re ready for it? Not until you’re equipped with this list of defensive tips.

# 1: Know how to remove a tick. Spending more time outdoors means spending more time in areas where bloodsucking ticks might latch onto you and, possibly, transmit Lyme disease or some other ailment. Fortunately, not all ticks are infected, and it can take hours or days for the infected ones to pass a disease into your body. So check yourself thoroughly when you’ve been in tick territory (check kids and pets, too). To evict an unwanted hitchhiker, used fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to your skin as possible, and pull upward with slow, steady pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the creature, and don’t touch it with bare hands (use a tissue or latex gloves if you need to handle it). Wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water. You can put the tick in a sealed plastic bag and toss it in the freezer for later identification, in case you develop symptoms of an infection.

# 2. Don’t burn down your house. Nothing ruins a holiday cookout like watching your home become a smoldering ruin, so take some precautions. Place your grill at least three feet from your house, or any other structure, on a nonflammable surface. If you haven’t used your gas grill since last summer, check the hoses for blockages. Keep extra gas tanks stored away from the grill in a shaded, untrafficked area. Consider a new gas grill with more safety features if yours is several years old.

# 3. Don’t get hit by lightning. You know that old trick of counting the seconds between a lightning flash and a thunderclap to see how close a storm is? In the time it takes you to do that, you could get zapped by a 100-million-volt bolt of lightning. Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles away from a rainstorm, so any time you hear thunder or see thunderclouds, it’s time to seek shelter. The best option is an enclosed building that has wiring and plumbing, which will direct a lightning strike into the ground. The second safest choice is a hard-topped metal vehicle, such as a car or truck, with all the doors closed and windows rolled up (keep your hands off any metal surfaces).

# 4. Don’t get tripped up by flip-flops. After nearly a year in the closet, your favorite pair of flip-flops could use an inspection before you rotate them back into regular use. Replace them if they show signs of severe wear, if the area that fits between your toes is irritating, or if they bend anywhere but at the ball of the foot. Don’t wear them while doing yard work or playing sports, unless a twisted ankle or weed-whacker scar is your idea of summer fun. When shopping for a replacement, look for the American Podiatric Medical Association’s seal of acceptance to find the most foot-friendly pair.

# 5. Don’t let anyone leave a pool party dry. Okay, it’s not really a survival tip, but why miss an opportunity to make a big splash? According to Men’s Health magazine, there are two secrets to performing the kind of cannonball that makes everyone around you regret not being already wet. First, you’ll have a better chance of soaking everyone poolside if you take a running start before jumping in, so your body contacts more water as it slides into the pool. Stay tucked in the classic cannonball position for a fast descent, but spread open a little just before you hit.