Ticks are sending more people to emergency rooms this year, and Middle Tennessee doctors are urging residents to take precautions.

Why it matters: Tick bites can transmit illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. They can also trigger alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat and other mammal-derived products.

By the numbers: The United States is in the midst of one of the most intense tick seasons in a decade. The latest CDC data shows troublesome tick bites are still on the rise.

• Emergency department visits for tick bites in the Southeast rose from 6 per 100,000 visits in January and February to 26 in March, 50 in April, 64 in May and 70 in June, according to CDC data.

Zoom in: Dr. Brian Wilcox, chief clinical officer for Ascension Saint Thomas, oversees 20 emergency departments across the region. He tells Axios his doctors are seeing more tick activity.

Threat level: Shorter, warmer winters and fewer hard freezes have helped ticks survive and multiply at higher rates, Wilcox says.

• Growing deer and rodent populations have amplified the problem, giving ticks more hosts to travel on.

What to do: Wilcox recommends wearing light-colored clothing and using repellents such as DEET on skin.

• When you're outside or walking through grassy or wooded areas, Wilcox says, it's a good idea to tuck your pants into your socks.
• "It's a funny look, but it works effectively."

After you come inside: Check yourself, kids and pets for ticks.

If you find a tick attached: Don't twist, rip or burn it off. Instead, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it close to the skin, then pull upward with steady pressure.

Yes, and: Save the tick in a sealed bag if possible. Wilcox says identifying the species can help doctors treat symptoms if they develop.

Act fast: Dr. Marshall Hall, chief of emergency medicine at TriStar Skyline Medical Center, tells Axios the risk of disease transmission generally rises the longer a tick is attached.

• "The quicker we get it off of you, the better," Hall says.

When to call a doctor: Seek medical attention if you develop a fever, fatigue, headaches or a rash.

• "One of the things that we reiterate to our resident physicians that are working with us ... is [if you encounter] a fever in the summer months, you've got to think about tick-borne illness," Hall says.

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You might have noticed a recurring theme at the top of our newsletters lately: rain.

Why it matters: Nashville has been inundated with summer showers and thunderstorms over the last couple of weeks. That's had benefits after an extended period of drought, but it is also raising some safety concerns.

Threat level: More rain is expected to pummel the region this weekend, with up to 4 inches of accumulation possible. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Middle Tennessee through Sunday.

• Rivers and creeks in flood-prone areas are at an elevated risk.

Now what: If you're anxious to avoid the soggy conditions, there are still plenty of options for weekend entertainment.

🦖 Dinosaurs are taking over the Nashville Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday. The "Dinosaur Adventure" event includes life-size animatronic dinosaurs, bounce houses and simulated fossil digs.

• Tickets start at $32.78.

🎸 Retro rockers might enjoy an impromptu trip to the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday for the Air Supply concert.

• Tickets start at $63.

🎨 Frist Arts Fest runs 1-5pm Sunday at the Frist Art Museum. The event will feature music, dance performances, games, arts and crafts, and of course the museum's current exhibits, which include a deep dive into surrealism.

• Admission is free for kids and $20 for adults.

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Nashville's explosive fireworks helped ABC notch a surprise ratings win on July 4, when the primetime TV special broadcast live from Music City beat a longtime favorite on another network.

Why it matters: Music City is gaining more clout as a TV ratings draw.

By the numbers: "Nashville's Star-Spangled Bash" averaged 5.44 million viewers across three hours, besting NBC's two-hour special "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks," which pulled in 4.94 million viewers.

👀 Stunning stat: That was the first time since 2010 that any other network has beaten NBC in primetime on July 4, per the Hollywood Reporter.

• ABC reported that the Nashville special pulled in its best July 4 viewership numbers in 26 years.

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🗳️ Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he'd love to see the three Republican candidates for governor in a public debate before the Aug. 6 primary. Frontrunner U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has not committed to any debates or public forums.

• Early voting in the race begins July 17. (Tennessean)

🔍 New state testing data showed third grade reading comprehension is improving, but academic progress further into middle school is more uneven. (Chalkbeat)

🚦 Nashville broke ground this week on its first "Complete Street" project funded by the Choose How You Move transit program. The project will aim to improve pedestrian safety and bus access in Wedgewood-Houston. (Nashville Banner)

We've come to the end of another week, and it's time to reflect on what we've learned.

🧠 Show off your smarts by hitting reply and sending us your answers to the following questions. If you get them all correct, we'll give you a shoutout on Monday!

1. What popular fundraiser does former Titan Chris Johnson want to revive to raise money for ALS research?
2. Name the new sports video game that features a score performed by Nashville musicians.
3. Which Tennessee interstate is now home to a bridge that was renamed for President Trump?