Outdoor play is essential to a healthy childhood, and building a strong and secure relationship with the great outdoors is an integral part of life. Part of that relationship involves coexisting with all of the creatures of this place, big and small - even the ticks!
Pesky ticks thrive in humid and moist conditions at temperatures above zero degrees. Ticks tend to occupy grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Ticks hitch a ride on clothing, shoes, and animals, meaning we can find them outdoors and indoors.
There are several effective tick-prevention strategies that we can implement as parents and caregivers:
Before and during outdoor activities:
Choose light-coloured clothing, socks tucked over pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a wide-brimmed sun hat, preferably protecting the neck whenever in tick-favoured zones.
Apply insect repellent on clothing and skin. Our school favourite is Tick Attack Botanical Insect Repellent, an all-natural formula to protect skin and clothing without harsh chemicals. This product is also safe for dogs.
Avoid going off from trails as it increases the chances of attracting ticks. Ticks do not jump but they ‘quest’ ascend plants, extend their front legs, and wait poised for a chance to attach to a passing host.
After outdoor activities:
After outdoor activities, perform regular tick checks on yourself, your kids, and your pets. Be sure to check hard-to-find areas such as the underarms, groin area, belly button, waist, ankles, ears, behind the knees, and throughout the hair.
Lint rollers are particularly great at this time of year for picking up pin size juvenile ticks. With the lint roller, roll over clothing and skin at the end of any time spent in the woods.
To eliminate any unattached ticks on clothing after your outdoor activity, change out of clothes and place them in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can wash clothes on the hot water cycle and high heat dry cycle, respectively. Ticks do not like heat and can survive cold/warm wash cycles.
If a tick is latched or engorged in your skin, you will need to safely remove it as soon as possible. A fine tipped tweezer or a specialized tick removing device are the most effective tools at removing ticks from skin.
Facts: Lyme disease takes between 24-48 hours to transmit. Not all ticks carry the disease-causing agents.
Additional Resources: www.etick.ca, Public Health Ontario, Atlantick Blog
All natural Tick Attack Botanical Insect Repellent and tick removal kits are available for immediate purchase online while quantities last.
Enjoy the wondrous outdoors, and play safe!
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