Tips to Protect Your Family From Lyme Disease

I was provided this information by PR for TBDA (Tick Borne Disease Alliance). In addition, I was provided with a Tick Removal/Testing kit. No compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

Having lived in a townhouse prior to moving into our home, we never really worried too much about ticks or lyme disease. We didn’t have any grass and our son mostly played on a playground that didn’t have grass or vegetation nearby. Within one week of moving into our current house, which sits on a partially wooded lot,  I found a tick on myself.  I realized how easily this could happen to my son. Now, with three children, all under 5, it’s scary for me to think how easily one of them could be exposed to Lyme Disease while playing in their own backyard.

Lyme Diseases is the most common illness spread by ticks in North America. It’s most prevalent in spring and summer months. The CDC labeled Lyme Disease a tremendous public health problem, infecting 300.000 people every year, 10 more than previously reported.

With outdoor play in full-swing, it’s important to learn how you can protect yourself and family from Lyme disease and the ticks that carry it.

Here are some tips, suggested by Bob Oley, tick-borne disease prevention expert:

• Conduct full body tick checks of family members who go outside. Check areas that ticks are known to hide – between toes, behind knees, in the navel, on the back and behind the ears. This is especially important for children.

• Apply a tick repellent on exposed skin. For those that prefer organic products, instead of chemicals, try essential oils like Lemon Eucalyptus Oil or Cedar Oil. Lavender oil also has tick repelling properties.

• Keep outdoor clothing outside of the home. All other clothes should be put immediately into the clothes dryer and on high heat for 20-30 minutes. Then wash and dry. The dry heat wil kill any ticks that have latched themselves onto clothing.

• Get a tick removal / testing kit, like the one below. I really like that I have these on hand to be sure I can safely and effectively remove ticks AND have any ticks removed sent out for testing. This ensures that I can get the answers I need to get my family the best possible treatment.

Even if you’re not getting the kit, learn the steps to properly remove a tick. You want to be able to act fast and properly in the event you find one on yourself or a loved one.

Information provided by PR for Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA). TBDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness, promoting advocacy and supportong initiateves to find a cure for tick-borne diseases. Visit them at www.TBDAlliance.org

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