Did you know that Spring is peak tick bite season? Since we began supporting Lyme Disease UK as our charity of the year, we have learnt a great deal about Lyme disease and believe having an awareness of it is vital.
Lyme Disease UK is a charity run by a wonderful team who work to advance awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease in the UK. Every year in May, they run a national Wake Up To Lyme campaign to raise awareness of how to prevent tick bites and what to do if you’re bitten.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in the northern hemisphere, endemic in many parts of the UK. Here we’ve brought together some of the key things to know about ticks and some top tips to avoid being bitten.
What are ticks?
Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that are mainly found in woodland and grassland areas. They attach to your skin, suck your blood and can cause Lyme disease in some cases. They have eight legs, with an egg-shaped body that becomes larger and darker when filled with blood.
Ticks have been found in every county in the UK and can range in size from as small as poppy seeds to as large as baked beans. Although active throughout the year, you’ll most likely see them between spring and autumn.
Not all ticks in England carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, however it’s still important to be aware of them and safely remove them as soon as possible.
How do you prevent tick bites?
Here are a few tips from the NHS to reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick:
- Apply insect repellent – products containing DEET are best
- Keep to footpaths when out walking and avoid long grass
- Wear light-coloured clothing to help you spot a tick on your clothes more easily
- Cover your skin when out walking
- Inspect your skin and your children’s skin for ticks, especially at the end of the day
- Check your pets to ensure they don’t bring ticks into your home on their fur
What do you do if you’re bitten?
As tick bites can carry diseases, it’s important to remove them straight away. When removing a tick, be careful not to squeeze the tick’s body or leave the head in.
The best way to remove a tick safely is to twist it off using fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool, which are available at some pharmacies, vets and pet shops. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, slowly pull upwards without squeezing or crushing the tick, and dispose of it.
Once the tick is removed, clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water. You do not need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or become unwell.
Below you’ll see the tick removal tools and tick repellent spray available from Lyme Disease UK’s partner, Botanic Protect. We recently provided each of our employees with a tick twister – hopefully they won’t be needed, but could be essential in the case of being bitten!
Why does this matter to us?
At CMS, we are supporting a team of individuals who will be rowing across the Atlantic in 2024 to raise awareness of Lyme disease and raise funds for Lyme Disease UK.
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Rowing Challenge will see John and his team row 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua, rowing for 2 hours then sleeping for 2 hours constantly, 24 hours a day!
Why? John’s daughter Yasmin sadly has chronic Lyme disease after having been bitten by a tick four years ago, making this cause very close to the team’s hearts and driving their determination to raise awareness and funds.
As well as delivering their annual Wake Up to Lyme awareness campaign, Lyme Disease UK develop resources for patients and medical professionals, attend and exhibit at conferences, and much more.
We’re pleased to be supporting John, his team, and Lyme Disease UK by raising funds for this worthy cause. If you would like to contribute towards our target, please consider leaving a donation on our fundraising page here – thank you.
You can find out more about Lyme disease on the NHS website. A range of information, support and resources can also be found at www.lymediseaseuk.com.
