Every year there are approximately 100,000 cases of Lyme disease and while death is rare, this can be a disease that has serious complications that you do not want your children to experience. With children playing outside and enjoying the sunshine during the summer months, how do you go about preventing this disease?

How can Lyme disease be prevented?

Tip #1 -- Use Insect Repellent

Your best bet with insect repellent is to use a product that has a 30% concentration of DEET in it. Apply the repellent to both the skin and clothing when going outside where you suspect ticks may be.

Keep in mind that insect repellents can be toxic so don’t overdo the spray. A product with a 10% concentration will last about two hours. Also, do not use DEET on young children under the age of three.

If you prefer not to use commercial insect repellents on your children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that oil of lemon eucalyptus offers the same protection as DEET and doesn’t have any harmful side effects.

Tip #2 -- Proper Clothing

When hiking through the woods or in grassy areas with your children, you need to dress yourself and the kids in pants and long sleeves. The proper clothing will deter the ticks from latching onto your skin should they fall on you while you’re in the woods. Stay on the main trail instead of forging through brushy areas where there may be more ticks.

Wearing light-colored clothing also helps prevent being bitten by a tick. Light-colored clothing makes spotting the ticks easier and they can be brushed off before they bite you or your children.

Tip #3 -- Tick-Proof Your Yard

Lyme disease is carried only by Deer Ticks. These ticks are active mainly in May to September so be more alert for the ticks during this time.

Deer ticks love grassy areas. Keep your yard where your children will be playing cleared of brush and leaves. If you have woodpiles, keep them in a sunny area of the yard.

Tip #4 -- Check Your Children for Ticks

After your children have been playing outside or romping with you in the woods, be sure and check to make sure they don’t have ticks. Ticks love to settle in protected and creased areas of the body.

These areas include the groin, navel, armpits, ears, back of knees and the nape of the neck. Make sure you always do a tick check during active tick times.

By following these four tips, you and your children can have a fun and safe summer that is tick free.

Jason Ladock

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