Tick Safety for Huron County Families: What to Watch For This Spring

Spring in Huron County is one of the best times of year — longer days, the smell of fresh-turned soil, kids back outside on bikes, and the start of trail season along the Maitland and the Bayfield. It's also the start of tick season. As soon as daytime temperatures hold steady above about 4°C, blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) become active again, and we start hearing about bites at the pharmacy counter.

Tick numbers across southwestern Ontario have grown steadily over the past decade, and Huron County is no longer a low-risk area. The good news is that simple, practical habits make a real difference. Here's what we want every family in Seaforth to know.

Where Ticks Live in Our Area

Ticks don't fall out of trees — that's a common myth. They wait on the tips of grasses and low shrubs and grab onto whatever brushes past. The places they're most likely to be in Huron County include:

• Tall grass and the brushy edges of farm fields
• Wooded trails, especially the leaf-littered ground beside the path
• Long grass around fence lines and ditches
• Backyards that border bush, gardens, or wood piles

Pets — especially dogs that run through long grass — are a common way ticks make it back into the house, so check them every time they come inside.

Prevention: Simple Habits That Really Work

You don't have to stay indoors all summer to be safe. A handful of habits will protect almost everyone in your family.

Dress for it

When you're heading into long grass or a wooded trail, wear light-coloured clothing — it makes ticks much easier to spot before they attach. Tuck your pant legs into your socks (it looks goofy, it works), and wear closed shoes rather than sandals.

Use an insect repellent that actually repels ticks

Repellents containing 20–30% DEET or 20% icaridin are both effective against ticks and safe for most adults and children when used as directed. Permethrin-treated clothing is another option for people who spend a lot of time in the bush. We carry several options at the pharmacy and can help you pick the right one for your skin and your activity level.

Do a tick check

This is the single most effective thing you can do. Within a couple of hours of coming indoors, do a head-to-toe check on yourself, your kids, and your pets. Pay special attention to:

• Behind the ears and along the hairline
• The back of the neck
• Under the arms and around the waistband
• The backs of the knees
• The groin area

A shower within two hours of coming inside helps wash off any unattached ticks and gives you a chance to do a thorough check.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

If you find a tick that has already attached, don't panic — just remove it carefully. Skip the old-school tricks like petroleum jelly, nail polish, or burning it with a match. Those can actually make things worse by causing the tick to release more saliva into the bite. Here's the right way:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers (not your fingers).
2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, right at its mouthparts.
3. Pull straight up with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk.
4. Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
5. Save the tick in a sealed container or zip bag if you can — the local public health unit may be able to identify the species.

Make a note of the date you were bitten and the location on your body. If symptoms appear later, this information helps your doctor or pharmacist a great deal.

What to Watch For After a Bite

Most tick bites don't lead to illness — but some do, and Lyme disease is the one we worry about most in this part of Ontario. Symptoms typically appear 3 to 30 days after the bite. Watch for:

• An expanding red rash, sometimes shaped like a bull's-eye, around the bite site
• Fever, chills, or unusual fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle and joint aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

If any of these show up — even weeks after the bite — see your doctor promptly. Lyme disease responds very well to antibiotics when caught early. Left untreated, it can become much more difficult to manage.

How Keating's Pharmacy Can Help

We're happy to be part of your tick prevention plan in a few practical ways. Stop in and we can:

• Help you choose the right repellent for your family — including options for children and people with sensitive skin
• Walk you through proper tick removal and what to put in a small "tick kit" for your car or backpack
• Talk through the early symptoms of Lyme disease and when to escalate to a doctor
• Refill any tetanus or routine vaccines that may need updating

If you've been bitten and you're not sure what to do next, please don't hesitate to come in or give us a call. We'd much rather have you ask early than wait and worry.

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Have a safe and healthy spring out there.

— The Team at Keating's Pharmacy, Seaforth, Ontario