Tick Policy
Downloadable Link:
Staff at Laurel Farm Kindergarten will have tick awareness.
Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that measure around two millimetres long before feeding. Ticks more frequently feed from late March to early June, and from August to October. However, ticks have been known to feed throughout the year. Ticks typically thrive in forests, woodlands, moorlands, and heath. Not all ticks are infected, and the risk of a disease being transmitted is considerably lowered if the ticks is removed within the first 24 hours.
Diseases
| Diseases | Symptoms | Diagnosis/treatment |
| Lyme Disease | -Bull’s eye rash (erythema migrans). Red Ring-shaped rash usually spreading from site of tick bite -Flu-like symptoms | -See your local doctor for tests -Treatment involves a course of antibiotics |
| Babesiosis | -Tiredness, loss of appetite, general ill feeling Possible symptoms in more advances cases: -Fever, sweats, muscle aches, headaches, low blood pressure, liver problems, severe haemolytic anaemia, kidney failure. Symptoms can take from 1-12 months after tick bite to appear, lasting from several days to several months. | -See your local doctor for tests -Treatment involves a combination of two types of anti-parasite drugs |
| Ehrlichiosis | -Sudden high fever, tiredness, major muscle aches, severe headache, rash. Possible symptoms in more advances cases: -Low numbers of white blood cells or platelets, kidney failure. Symptoms appear around 3 to 16 days following a tick bite. | -Diagnosis testing is somewhat limited -Treatment involves a course of antibiotics |
Prevention
Children and adults to wear protective clothing, particularly whilst in the woodland areas. This includes covering arms and legs, ankles, etc. Shoes or boots should be worn on the feet, no open toed shoes/sandals. Parents/carers may choose to apply appropriate repellants to their child. Staff will inform parents/carers of ticks. Parents/carers should ideally check their children for ticks after every Forest School session; popular tick areas include warm moist places such as groin, waist, arm pits, behind the knee, and along hair lines.
Staff to check themselves for ticks after every day session.
Removal If not yet properly attached, ticks can be brushed or picked off the skin. If tick is attached, remove it immediately using small fine-tipped tweezers or specially designed tool. Grasp the tick as close the the skin as possible and pull slowly upwards, trying to avoid squeezing, twisting or jerking the insect. After removal, clean the bite area with an antiseptic wipe. Keep an eye on this area for several week after for any changes. Contact local GP if any symptoms emerge.
Useful links
https://www.nhs.uk › conditions › lyme-disease
https://www.owlscotland.org/images/uploads/resources/files/
https://www.owlscotland.org/images/uploads/resources/files/TICKS_AND_TICKBORNE_DISEASES_2603141.pdf