Let's talk about ticks...

Yeah, I know... You don't want to talk about ticks... I don't either... but we must. Like it or not, if we're going to go out and explore with our children, we have to address the fact that there are things that can cause concern. And the best way to alleviate concern or fear is to be prepared, and to talk about it. So, we have to talk about ticks. I'll be honest, ticks are probably one of my biggest mama worries when it comes to kids and the outdoors, and last year we had terrible ticks in our yard! Getting good information helped me prevent bites and bring my worry down. I saw my first tick of the year a couple weeks ago, and it reminded me of this great woe of warm weather - it's officially tick season!

So what do you need to know about ticks? Here are the basics:

• There 3 main kinds of ticks found in Iowa: Lonestar, American Dog, and Deer (black-legged) ticks. Ticks are worrisome because of their ability to spread disease. Deer ticks can spread Lyme disease. Other tick-borne illnesses are extremely rare.
• If you are in an area with lots of underbrush or tall grasses, you should be prepared for ticks. A bug spray with Deet will help deter ticks (This pediatrician sums up my feelings on Deet here), as will tight clothing (elastic at the bottom of your pants, leggings) or pants tucked into socks (a very fashionable look).
• Permethrin-treated clothing is a really great way to kill ticks, but this chemical is also highly toxic to cats, so be cautious if you have cats in your home!
• Ticks have to be attached for at least 24 hours to spread disease to you (some sources even say 48 hours), so the best thing you can do to prevent the spread of disease is a tick check! Change out of clothing you were wearing right when you get home, then check for any ticks on your (and your kids') body. Don't forget to check groins and scalps! (Wash/dry on hot to kill ticks on clothing)
• If you find a tick unattached, I like to brush it off into the toilet for flushing (don't smash it). If you find one attached, don't burn or smother it. Simply grasp the tick with tweezers (as close to the point of attachment as possible), and pull gently. As long as your tick is flat and not engorged, the likelihood of it spreading disease is very low!
• One of the main signs of Lyme disease is a bullseye-shaped rash. If you see something like this after being in a tick-friendly area, make sure to seek treatment right away! Early treatment is key for Lyme disease.

Want to learn more, straight from the source? Here are some resources:

• This pdf from the Iowa State University Extension explains how ticks spread disease, their life cycle, and has the best pictures for identification. It is pretty much a great all-in-one source for everything you need to know!
• The Iowa Clinic describes tick-borne illness and how to prevent it.
• The Mosquito Squad tells us how to dispose of a tick

The bottom line is that yes, we need to be cautious about ticks. Preventing bites is the best way to prevent disease. As parents, it is our job to protect our children!  However, we can't let our fear keep our children indoors. The benefits of being outdoors with our children are HUGE, and especially if we take the steps above, the risk of disease is low. Be prepared, and get outside! I would love to know in the comments: Did this information help alleviate some fear for you? What other outdoor fears do you have?