Ticks in outside areas

Some staff at our after-school program have reported ticks in outside areas near our school. Ticks are bugs that sit on tall grass and bushes until they attach themselves to a person or animal passing by. Some ticks can transmit Lyme disease, although the most common tick in the Hamilton area is not a carrier of this disease.

We wanted to share some information as a precaution.

Please be aware that school staff trained in First Aid are not trained in tick removal. Incorrectly removing a tick can increase the risk of disease. We will inform parents when students come into contact with a tick, but note that it takes 24 hours for Lyme disease (if present) to move from a tick to a person.

You can learn more using the following resources:

• City of Hamilton web page on Lyme Disease & Ticks
• Province of Ontario web page on Lyme Disease