LymeNet Flash: would you take lyme information into schools?

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Posted by SpdDrv (Member # 5861) on :

Would it be something to consider for lyme education to take lyme information into the schools say Jr high and high schools at least and tell them about lyme disease and what it can do if it goes untreated?

Kind of like they do fire prevention at school what about a lyme prevention with so many more people being diagnosed in my area I just wonder if it would go over well or sound dumb to kids from 6th to 12 grade?

I would never want ANYONE to go through what I have with lyme disease and treatment. You know what they say prevention is the key.
Anyone ever thought about doing that or done it?
Stacie

Posted by Kara Tyson (Member # 939) on :

Sure.

However, be aware that if you give a lecture children ask questions that are very pointed. I used to give lectures to the Girl Scouts. Now I only give them to the leaders..not to the kids themselves.

Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :

I would LOVE to see you do this!!

I actually have school nurses contacting me at home to get them info and brochures.

Our health department is so sucky they are in denial and are NOT providing ANY info.

School kids, principals, teachers, parents, etc. are coming down with Lyme and the Board of Education won't provide the schools information that they are requesting and need!

Some times I am asked to address the PTA... so maybe they would be a good place to try also.

You may also want to go to your county commissioners meeting.. because usually there is a reporter there covering local "news".. and what you present will be "on the record".

As momtoeight always said..

Each one, reach one.

Good for you!

Posted by SpdDrv (Member # 5861) on :

Ok so it is a good idea and the part about going to the school board first is a good place to start. In Louisiana that is where everything starts or stops. I think the school board and at least the nurses should have some information about this. I have seen several kids that I have told their mom's have them tested for lyme disease. One has and he was very much positive even his ELISA (is that the right initials?) and his Igenex was through the rough. He is just not after 6 months of treatment beginning to feel like a kid again.
How would I go about getting information put together to give out to School Board members and what kind of information would I need to include in the packet? I don't want to bowl them over with a bunch of stuff they won't understand just some basic information on ticks the harms they cause and what to do in a tick removal situation and then maybe some information on warning signs that a child might have lyme disease when they are sick and no one can find anything wrong?
Where could I get basic information on tick disease that wouldn't confuse officials but will give them the basics anything I could get for free would be easier for me.
Thanks for the help,
Stacie

Posted by nan (Member # 63) on :

Two of us got permission from the superintendent to distribute LDA pamphlets and tick ID cards to every child in town.
(about 6,000 students)

We also did a presentation for school nurses
that was well received. And we combined bits of various video tapes and gave presentations to PTA groups.

We heard lots of stories about various children dealing with their pediatricians
over lyme disease. One child's mother said that her child had terrible arthritic pains after a short course of amoxy..and was reassured that her daughter was just having growing pains.

Unforunately we have both been too sick to do much so far this year...but are hoping to do the same again in the spring.

Anything we can do to further the cause is valuable! Go for it!!

Posted by lymemomtooo (Member # 5396) on :

SD, I bought enough tick kits from our lyme support group to give one to each school in our district..I also had each kit in a bag with additonal brochures and tick cards.

I made a special packet for the superintendent..I called him and explained that I would like to DONATE these to the district..They had some information on preventing tick borne diseases and that my daughter probably contracted lyme from property adjacent to our local elementary school..

I suggested he read it first to see if it was appropriate. To my surprise, he included it in his administrators meeting the very next week and they all talked about it prior to taking to the school nurses.

Our support group also is putting Lyme Times in many Dr offices in the area..

Recently the local state representative's office referred a parent to me..I had "bugged" him to vote for the PA Bill..

I think the more we do to educate, the more children and adults we can help or save..Good luck.

Posted by lla2 (Member # 2364) on :

I WISH my nurses in our town would take hte info and learn something..they are forever telling my son he should nt' be on abx for so long..and that he really doesn't have lyme etc...that it 's always treated in 3 weeks...

and this is in a town where it's highly endemic and I had pat smith come and speak last year! THey have blinders on here..dont' want to hear it...it's sad...

Lisa

Posted by cootiegirl (Member # 3216) on :

Where I live, the people are deaf, dumb and blind to lyme. I have been asked so many times where our family went camping that we contracted lyme! For the record, we are not campers LOL! I have gone round and round with our area health dept - they will not believe that lyme exists in our area - we must have transported our 'cooties' into town! But oh boy, look out for West Nile Virus!!!!

I kind of approach the lyme activism subtly. I am physically not able to do a whole lot in terms of getting out into the community and getting the word out on a large scale, but I talk to people on an individual level about lyme, as the situation permits. However, it's a fine balance. I don't ever want people running when the see me coming,for fear all I will talk about is Lyme.

I can't begin to tell you how many families in my area have loved ones with unexplained symptoms. In a non scientific study, it seems that in this area, there is a disproportionately high number of people being dxed with MS. Not surprising to me. When people tell me that they don't know what their loved one has, I tactfully suggest getting tested for lyme and coinfections,and offer whatever help I can give them - the offer is never taken up.

I have come to the conclusion that while I can offer information that may be helpful in my community, in most cases it falls on deaf ears. And as selfish as it might sound, right now I have to use my energy to get my kids and myself well. I put the info out there as I can, but unfortunately it just lands on the pavement unused.....

I have approached my youngest's PTA, but they politely declined. The district superintendent is aware of the problem as my oldest is being hometutored right now. Building principals and teachers are aware of lyme as it effects my kids and me. They have been open to learning more individually, but nothing on a schoolwide program level yet.

My youngest is planning on getting the message out thru her science fair project. She wants to do her project on Lyme Disease. She's only 7 and not a lymie, but she wants to get the word out because she sees what it does to her brothers and me. So sometimes just small things like this make an impact.
cootiegirl

Posted by 3greatkids (Member # 3838) on :

Good for your little one Cootie!

My young high school friend did a term paper last year for one of his projects.

It was great and really spread the word in his school.

Every little bit helps.

These kids are special,taking it upon themselves to learn more about Lyme and to help educate others.

This young man I helped with info now has his sites set on med school and being a LLMD or doing research in the field.He really wants to help.I quess watching my life change so dramatically it really struck a nerve with him.Great kid.

Good luck with the project Cooties girl!!I give you an A plus!

Posted by Barrie (Member # 1796) on :

We have brought lyme to the schools in different ways. Each time my daughter has had to give a speech she has given it on lyme. She passes out brochures to the classes and teachers. She seems to make at least one lyme speech a year. I know it isn't much but, hopefully, it has helped someone. We give each of our daughter's teachers the brochures on lyme. I am a school nurse and have a stack of three different lyme brochures in my office. I educate people whenever the opportunity arises. Depending on your school nurse, order some of the brochures and give them to your school nurse. I think it would be great to bring lyme to the school but, I understand their position. If they open that door, they are going to have to let everyone come in with their own diseases. Change begins with baby steps. Educate where and when you can.

Posted by SpdDrv (Member # 5861) on :

Thanks for all of the responses. I think starting at the school board meeting would be the first step to take. Not only would that let the school know but it would be an article in the paper about it also.
I don't want to bombard them with information of late stage lyme or anything like that but I would like to give them knowledge on how to properly remove a tick and signs to watch for after being bitten.

The people I have spoke with around here since I have been diagnosed didn't even know about the bullseye rash or other symptoms that could lead to it being lyme disease. I tell anyone who ask me what has been going on my story and they didn't even know lyme disease was in this area they thought you get it in places far off in the mountains and such.
I can't afford to put a whole lot of money out but I am willing to spend money if that is what will help other people not to have to go through what I have been through.
Anyone that can point me in the right directions for getting the tick kits and LDA pamplets and anything else that would help bring others to an awareness that lyme is in this area and is a disease that very much can kill you or hurt you for life.
I want to start with the school board, PTA groups and the nurses and then go from there.
Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.
You can email me at [email protected] with any information you might have to help me in this venture.
Thanks,
Staci
[email protected]

Posted by bg (Member # 46416) on :

Staci, the ABC's brochure would be good.

2 new books school & PUBLIC libraries:
======================================

LDA's new children's book for 8-12 for $6

and also the new 8-04 adults:

LYME DISEASE UPDATE: Science, Policy, & law for either $10 or $12 includes postage.

all wonderful suggestions/experiences above..my time is up today. Betty G., Iowa