Even though cooler weather has arrived, tick activity is just starting to pick up. Ticks are especially active in late October and November as they are coming out for one last meal before winter. Infection rates of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease are highest in the late fall.
Please remind your children to check for ticks, especially if they’ve been in areas that ticks thrive such as tall grass or leaf piles. It’s best to take a shower after playing outside and to check the entire body for ticks including around the waist, behind the legs, groin area, and armpits.
If a tick is found, remove with tweezers and clean the site. Monitor for rash, redness, or fever. Contact your pediatrician if you think the tick was attached longer than 36 hours and appeared engorged, or if you have other concerns.
The Vermont Department of Health has lot of information online on how to Protect, Check, and Remove ticks, as well as how to Watch for illnesses associated with ticks. I also have booklets available at school with more information.
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