In Southern Ontario, there are some species of critters that may carry diseases, such as West Nile Virus (https://www.cloca.com/_files/ugd/b3995f_4af9410b5d2e4b88a0046c140137fd0c.pdf)or Lyme Disease. While the risk of contracting these illnesses is low, it’s important to be aware of the possibility. Blacklegged ticks or deer ticks are the type of ticks that can carry Lyme disease. To learn more about ticks and Lyme disease, information is available on the Government of Canada,(https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/lyme-disease/lyme-disease-awareness-resources.html) Public Health Ontario (https://www.ontario.ca/page/lyme-disease?gclid=CjwKCAjw3qGYBhBSEiwAcnTRLlkd7W6tezkpX1L-qmO_tKb3F-xOfsL5WLN1d5Taq37NKhga9Q1KURoCg8UQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)and your local Public Health Unit (https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/lyme-disease.aspx#:~:text=If%20you%20find%20a%20tick,immediately%20for%20advice%20about%20treatment)websites.
Before programming starts, CLOCA staff will conduct a general safety orientation with participants. As part of that orientation, staff will explain to children how to identify ticks and to notify their leaders if they find one either on themselves or another student.
Upon completion of the program, participants will be asked to team up to do a simple visual scan of each other to help identify any ticks or other bugs that might have landed on participants. Students will also be given the option of tucking their pants into their socks.
If a Tick is found biting a program participant:
1. If the child is at a CLOCA program with their school or with their guardian/parent, CLOCA staff will follow the school's protocols for responding to the ticks, or check with the parent or guardians before responding to the tick. If no school protocol is available and no parents or guardians are available onsite, CLOCA staff will remove the tick by following the steps outlined below.
2. If the child is at a CLOCA program without their school or guardian/parent, CLOCA will take the following steps outlined below to remove the tick.
- Grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible
- Slowly pull the tick straight out until it is removed;
- Thoroughly cleanse the bite site with rubbing alcohol and/or soap and water after the tick has been removed;
- Place the tick in a container and give it to the teacher to take home to give to the parents/guardians. It is recommended that parents/guardians submit the tick for testing to the Public Health Unit.
- Notify the parent/guardian of the tick bite.
3. CLOCA recommends that if anyone is bitten by a tick that they consult their Public Health Unit or qualified health professional as soon as possible.
What you can do to help students prepare:
Consider requesting that students bring insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin and show them how to apply it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Please note that CLOCA staff cannot provide insect repellent but can assist students in reapply their repellant as necessary.
Request that students wear clothes that cover exposed skin including long-sleeved shirts or jackets, long pants, and socks; closed toe shoes, and a hat.
Give parents the knowledge to help them search their child for ticks when they get home:
Pay special attention to the following areas:
o Groin
o Scalp
o Underarm areas
o Back
o Ears
Place child’s dry clothes (without other washed clothing) into the dryer set to “high” for 15 - 60 minutes to kill any ticks that may be on the clothing. Remove attached ticks from child’s body as soon as possible following your Public Health Unit’s recommendations.
