Preventing Lyme Disease

Hey Campers and Counselors!

Spending time outside is one of the best parts of camp life—whether you’re conquering a hiking trail, exploring the woods, or just bonding around the campfire. We want everyone to enjoy the natural beauty here without worrying about uninvited guests… specifically, tiny, six-legged ones: ticks!

Ticks are little critters found in wooded and grassy areas. If an infected tick attaches to you, it can transmit Lyme disease, a bacterial infection. The good news? It takes a while for the bacteria to enter your bloodstream (about 36 to 48 hours), so if you find a tick and remove it right away, your risk drops way down!

Let’s keep the fun going by following these simple tips to keep the ticks at bay:

7 Tick-Busting Habits for Campers

1. Wear the Bright Colors! When you’re heading into the woods, choose light-colored shirts and pants. Ticks are dark, so they’re much easier to spot against a bright background!

2. Scent of Safety: Before any outdoor excursion, give yourself a good spray down with insect repellent. Focus on your ankles, wrists, and hairline.

3. Cover Up: When hiking through thick brush or tall grass, wear long sleeves and pants. Think of your clothing as your superhero armor against ticks!

4. Stay Central: When walking on trails, try to stick to the center path. This helps you avoid brushing against tall grasses, overhanging branches, or bushes where ticks like to hang out and wait.

5. Tie It Back: If you have long hair, tie it back or tuck it under a hat. This prevents ticks from climbing up and making a beeline for your scalp!

6. The Daily De-Tick: This is crucial! After any extended outdoor activity, make it a habit to wash your body and clothing. More importantly, do a thorough “tick check” on yourself and your buddy. Look carefully in warm, hidden spots like armpits, behind knees, and in your hair.

7. Check Your Furry Friends: If camp has any dogs or pets that join you on trails, give their fur a thorough inspection too! Ticks don’t just bite humans.

Quick Fix: How to Remove a Tick Safely

Found one? No sweat! Quick removal is the key to preventing Lyme disease.

1. Grab Low: Use fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick firmly as close to the skin’s surface as possible (where the mouth parts entered).

2. Pull Straight: Pull steadily and slowly, applying even pressure directly outward. Do not twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin.

3. Clean Up: Once the tick is out, clean the bite area and your hands thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, soap and water, or another disinfectant.

4. Watch the Spot: Keep an eye on the bite area for up to 30 days. If you notice a distinctive bull’s-eye shaped rash or experience flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, headache), tell your counselor, camp nurse, or a trusted adult immediately.

Let’s all be responsible, safe, and tick-free so we can focus on making amazing camp memories!

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