Ticks might look like insects, but they’re not. They’re part of the arachnid family, which includes spiders. When a tick bites, it attaches itself to the skin and sucks blood. Most tick bites are harmless and don’t need medical treatment. But some ticks (like the deer tick) can carry harmful germs that cause illnesses like Lyme disease. How can I prevent tick bites and Lyme disease? While enjoying the outdoors, it’s important to remember that there are hundreds of kinds of ticks, and not all ticks carry Lyme disease. Here are some tips to help protect your family from the risk of a tick bite before heading out, and what to do after a day of exploring nature: Ticks removed within 36 hours are less likely to spread diseases. So, if you pluck the tick off right away, your child can’t be infected. Because ticks (especially deer ticks) are tiny, they may be hard to […]
