Proper Use of Digital Media by Young Children
We want to guide you about the proper use of digital media by young kids, so we can optimize their social and emotional development.
Tick Safety Tips
Little known fact, ticks are actually not insects but parasitic arachnids (related to spiders). They feed off the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. There are over 100 different kinds of ticks but there are only a handful that actually bite humans. Ticks typically are found in grassy, bushy, or wooded areas. According to an article by Kristi Nelson from knoxnews.com there are as many as 15 species of ticks that live in Tennessee. The four most common and troublesome are the “deer tick”, the lone star tick, the brown dog tick, and the American dog tick. The American dog and the brown dog ticks carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and the deer tick can transmit Lyme disease. The lone star tick carries ehrlichiosis, heartland virus, tularemia, and STARI and is known to be very aggressive. Its saliva can also cause an allergy to red meat. So with these rather scary ticks living among us it is important to know what to do to prevent their bites as well as what to do it bitten.
In order to prevent tick bites the CDC recommends wearing light colored clothing when in wooded areas. Wearing pants and tucking them into your shoes and tucking your shirt into your pants. Avoid areas with high grass and try to walk in the center of trails. They also recommend using 0.5% permethrin which is a common insecticide. It is recommended to shower within two hours of coming back indoor and tumble drying your clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks. Tick’s saliva has anesthetic qualities so you may not feel their bite. They like to bite warm areas such as knees, behind the ears, groin, armpits, and hairline. Check yourself, your kids, and your pets regularly.
If you do happen to find a tick the CDC recommends using tweezers to grasp as close to the skin as possible. Gently pull the tick upward avoiding twisting or squeezing it. The folk remedies that circulate on the internet including nail polish and burning matches can be very dangerous and can even increase your chances of getting a tickborne illness. Once the tick is removed clean the skin with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Dispose of a live tick by flushing it down the toilet.
Most tick-borne illnesses first cause flu like symptoms. If you have had exposure to ticks and develop fever, malaise, or fatigue see a medical provider so that you can be prescribed the necessary antibiotics. The good news is that with proper prevention and early removal you are able to enjoy the outdoors while staying safe and healthy.
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