A few words about Ticks

As you spend more time outside, it is important to know a few things about ticks. Here is some information that will help you to understand and prevent tick-borne illness.

• Ticks are most active April-September.
• Only infected blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, can spread Lyme Disease.
• An estimated 20-25% of deer ticks are infected with Lyme Disease.
• A tick must bite in order to transmit Lyme Disease; the tick must be attached for 24 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted.
• We strongly recommend a thorough tick check after outdoor time. Check your child’s whole body - especially the hair, groin, armpits, ears, and behind the knees. See our video tutorial for more.
• If you find a tick attached to someone in your family, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull straight out.
• If you are concerned about removing a tick or a tick bite, contact your pediatrician.

Here is a great resource for more information on ticks: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/