Health & Safety Resources

Please explore the Health & Safety Resources below.

Ticks

Tick-borne disease incidence is rising in Durham Region. Climate change, resulting in longer seasons of warm weather, is increasing the number of blacklegged ticks in our environment. Blacklegged ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and Powassan virus.

Ticks are found in wooded or forested areas, in leaf litter, or on bushes and tall grass. Ticks cannot fly, or jump. Instead, they climb to the tips of tall grasses and shrubs and wait for a bird, animal or person to pass by. If a person brushes past the spot where a tick is waiting, it may quickly attach to clothing or exposed skin. They often attach to areas of the body where they are hard to see such as the scalp. Blacklegged ticks are not usually found in typical school ground areas (i.e., mowed lawns, sports fields and paved areas).

A person who is bitten by a tick and/or who has tick bites does not need to be excluded from school/work.

There are actions you can take to prevent tick bites including:

  • When going into areas where ticks are commonly found, please be aware of the following measures to prevent tick bites.
  • Dress in light-coloured clothing which can make it easier to spot ticks. Long sleeves and long pants can prevent ticks from getting on your body. Pull your socks up over your pants and do not dress in open-toed shoes or sandals.
  • Walk in the centre of trails, and stay away from high grass and shrubs at the edge of trails, to avoid contact with ticks.
  • Apply insect repellant containing 10% to 20% DEET. Always follow product instructions. Assist children under 10 years of age to apply insect repellant, avoiding hands, mouth, and eyes.
  • Check your body and head for ticks after visiting bushy or wooded areas and remove outdoor clothing as soon as you come indoors. You can put the clothes immediately into a hot dryer, for at least 15 minutes, prior to washing them. Showering or bathing after spending time outdoors in these areas can remove unattached ticks.
  • If a tick is found on a person, it should be removed as soon as possible. Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 60 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.
  • Remember to also check pets for ticks following outdoor activities.

 If a tick is found on a student’s body while at school, it should be removed immediately, and the student’s parent/guardian will be notified. Schools are aware of how to remove ticks safely. 

If you are interested in having a tick identified, eTick.ca is a free online service that uses photographs of ticks for identification by a professional.

For more information, you can visit the following websites: