Summer camp leaders, outdoor educators, teachers, and parents
Help keep kids safe in the outdoors by learning about ticks and Lyme disease.
Summertime means exploring in the outdoors. Being tick aware is an important first step, but bites can still happen. Safe and timely tick removal can prevent pathogens from moving from ticks into people and reduce the chance of getting Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections.
Now is the time to learn and plan
The best time to learn about tick prevention, tick checks, tick removal and Lyme disease is now. If you run a summer camp or outdoor adventure group, create a plan to teach your leaders about ticks and Lyme disease, and a plan to have them teach kids (and adults) to be tick aware.
Learn about prevention, tick checks and safe tick removal
Find out how to prevent tick encounters, do a proper tick check, safely remove a tick, and look for the early symptoms of Lyme disease at CanLyme.com. Planning ahead can help prevent tick bites and Lyme disease, and help everyone gain confidence in removing and storing ticks for further identification and testing.
Things to consider when developing a tick safety plan
- Teaching staff and participants how to
- Understand tick habitats and behavior
- Prevent tick encounters (clothing, repellents, trails when possible)
- Do a proper tick check
- Develop a workplace protocol for
- What to do in the event of a tick bite
- How to safely remove and store a tick for identification and testing
- How to send a tick for testing
- Plan for notifying parents of a tick bite
- Plan for seeking medical attention
- Plan for monitoring post tick bite – know the early symptoms of Lyme!
- Other considerations
- Using age appropriate tick repellents
- Who provides repellent – parents, leaders or both?
- Ensuring tick removal supplies are easily accessible
- Creating a protocol for routine tick checks
Keep yourself, and your staff and your kids safe with a tick removal kit
Having a CanLyme Tick Removal Kit nearby can help ensure safe and timely tick removal and storage for further identification and testing. They’re easy to find in a first aid box, backpack, purse or glove box and can be ordered in bulk at a reduced price.
Resources for teachers and leaders
There are plenty of learning resources online, including the CanLyme Educators Resource which has learning modules and engaging activities for kids.
CanLyme also has Looking at Lyme podcasts geared at outdoor educators. Plan ahead and keep yourself, your staff, and your kids safe in the outdoors this summer!
