Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I know in my heart that none of you would want anyone else to suffer the way many of us have.
It's time we have a world where everyone knows the risks and dangers these tick borne diseases pose to everyone.
The IDSA/CDC, and even our own health departments and doctors groups, will not help and will not provide accurate information if they did.
It is up to us again this year to get it done!
So NOW is your chance to reach out and educate someone! Time to put on your thinking cap or your cute little colander if the brain is strange sometimes... ha!
I am in the process of updating my list of May Is Lyme Disease Awareness Month suggestions, increasing the printable handouts everyone can share for free and getting all new ideas ready to circulate.
Please suggest ideas below that might help and the things you plan to do! The more details the better!
Ann-Ohio
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 44364
posted
Get your city council, state senator or rep or governor to declare May Lyme disease awareness month.
Write the declaration yourself (use lots of "Whereas", and write a press release for them to use. They will like that!
Also contact local newspaper and tv health reporters - usually under "living" or some such - and offer self or friend to be interviewed.
See if an expert you know will agree to be interviewed and quoted. Like any head of activity involving hiking or camping or area state or metropark that has outdoor activities for kids. Also the county health department head who should have guidelines issued by your state.
Supply them with the press release so they will get all the facts straight.
Submit the press release directly by e-mail to all the area newspaper editors and tv station heads.
Can also write op-ed piece and get friends and family to write letters to the editor.
I will post a sample declaration and press release.
-------------------- Ann-OH Posts: 1589 | From Ohio | Registered: Aug 2014
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Ann-Ohio
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 44364
posted
Here is a sample Proclamation or Resolution to supply for officials to use. Be sure to insert the proper names, titles, states, counties or whatever in the proper places in the document.
IN RECOGNITION OF LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH MAY, 2018
Whereas: The black-legged tick is found in (area) and this tick, when infected, can spread Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases to humans, pets and farm animals with its bite, and
Whereas Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-transmitted disease in the United States; and
Whereas Lyme disease has been reported from all the counties in our state to the Centers for Disease Control; and
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control acknowledges that the actual number of cases in the U.S., including those which are diagnosed but not reported, is over 300,000 every year; and
Whereas people are urged to use insect repellents, and check themselves, their loved ones, and their pets for ticks after being in grassy and wooded areas; and
Whereas Lyme disease is most easily treated with antibiotics when detected early and very difficult to treat if allowed to spread throughout the body.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, (insert name and official title) do hereby recognize May 2018 as LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
Throughout (name of area - county, state, etc) and urge all our citizens to do all they can to increase awareness of Lyme disease and its prevention.
-------------------- Ann-OH Posts: 1589 | From Ohio | Registered: Aug 2014
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Ann-Ohio
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 44364
posted
A sample Press Release you can send along to officials with the proclamation. This can go to newspapers, tv stations as press release or as a Opinion article or as a letter to the editor. You can add links for good information at the end.
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month Many Tick-borne Diseases are Threats in Our State
Ticks are some of the world’s most tenacious critters. These tiny crawlers can hold on for days with a barbed mouth part that hooks into the skin, cemented in with a glue-like spit that also contains blood-thinner and anesthetic! You may never know what hit you until you are sick.
Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Bartonella and more - or some combination of those diseases, can be transmitted by the same tick at the same time!
Lyme disease is the most rampant. Recently the CDC published a study showing the number of new cases per year in the U.S. is actually over 300,000 nationally. Pennsylvania has the most reported cases.
If lucky after being bitten, you may see a red blotch, often looking like a bull’s-eye, which spreads in area, usually doesn’t itch, and may be warm to the touch. You must get immediate treatment with antibiotics, now recommended for 4 to 6 weeks, to stop the infection.
Half the people bitten, never see the tick or the rash. After days or weeks, their first experience of the bite is a wicked “flu,” followed by persistent joint and muscle pain that roves from area to area, severe headaches and extreme fatigue, as well as nerve pain and memory problems.
If treated with antibiotics soon enough and long enough, you will recover. If not treated until later, Lyme can become chronic, with debilitating physical and neurologic problems requiring long-term treatment and care.
Here are other tick-borne diseases found all over the country:
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) causes chills and fever and a peppery rash all over, usually beginning at wrists and ankles, and even covers the palms of hands and soles of feet. RMSF can be fatal. Immediate treatment with antibiotics is needed.
Anaplasmosis has a fever, too, but no rash. Tests show low platelet and white blood cell count. Immediate treatment with antibiotics is necessary, as this infection can be fatal.
Babesiosis symptoms resemble those of malaria - high fever, headache, fatigue and severe sweating.. Blood tests can diagnose babesiosis. Treatment includes drugs used for malaria and antibiotics. Can be fatal if victim has no spleen.
Bartonella symptoms include fever, headache, crusty rash resembling chickenpox, swollen lymph glands and fatigue. Antibiotics are the usual treatment.
To remove an attached tick grasp the head part with a pointed tweezers next to your skin and pulling slowly and steadily. DO NOT use Vaseline, nail polish a hot match; the tick will panic and regurgitate all its gut contents into you and infect you for sure.
Save the tick in a closed container to show the doctor.
Your best defense is an insect repellent containing the chemical DEET; 33% is plenty. Read the directions carefully. There are special repellents without DEET for kids. Apply to clothes or skin.
Just be sure to check all over the body for ticks, then wash off the repellent before bedtime.
Permethrin, derived from chrysanthemums, if sprayed on clothes, not on skin, and allowed to dry before wearing kills ticks. It lasts through several washings. Read directions carefully.
Light-colored clothes show ticks easily so you can brush ticks off before they bite. Half an hour in the dryer will kill ticks on clothes. Stay on the trail when hiking. Tuck your pants into your socks if you have to walk in the weeds or woods.
Check your pets at the end of the day, too, as they can carry ticks into your house. They can become sick as well.
You and your pets are at risk of tick-borne disease, so enjoy the outdoors, but be careful and aware of ticks!
-------------------- Ann-OH Posts: 1589 | From Ohio | Registered: Aug 2014
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
Simple and uncomplicated ways are effective in getting the message out too.
Make a homemade poster with basic Lyme facts and place at your local supermarket community billboard.
Make 5" by 3" place cards saying Lyme Disease is Real- Check yourself For Ticks ! Place them everywhere you go.
Laminate Lyme Brochures and place along dog trails, parks, neighborhood playgrounds, music festivals, outside venues, anywhere !
Call any and all of your representatives in local and state agencies and beg them for better insurance covered testing and treatment.
Even if you do 1 thing for awareness, it will positively matter. Posts: 2977 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2016
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
Can't believe I'm out of Lyme brochures !
200 of them I handed out. I must sound like a broken record, ha ha. I wish I was that dedicated about making my bed and doing housework. Not !
Don't disrespect sick Lyme patients.
Posts: 2977 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2016
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