‘BLAST’ A Message Of Protection Against Ticks, Disease

By Kendra Bobowick

“Lyme [disease] was a concern in our community,” said Ridgefield BLAST representative Jennifer Reid. “I wanted to bring a health-based message to the community.” In past years as she and others realized the risks tick-borne illnesses brought to residents, she was surprised to find, “There were no health packages in the state,” she said, addressing the Newtown Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee members Wednesday, March 10. As the local committee weighs information related to Lyme, deer, ticks, and illnesses contracted by residents, and will soon present a final report and recommendations to the selectmen, Ms Reid’s message last week is one of education.

She and others in Ridgefield secured $50,000 in grant funds and began creating — with experts’ help — their BLAST campaign.

Beginning her presentation, she said, “You have to believe in high risk; you have to know diseases are serious. You have to believe prevention will make a difference.”

She said, “Folks knowing what is going on with their bodies and going to see their physicians is critical.”

With these principles in mind came the acronym BLAST, which is the message she brings to communities, schools, health fairs, etc.

“BLAST tells you five measures for protection based on science…” Ms Reid said. Starting with the first letter she began, “B is for bath. Shower after coming back indoors.” The simple and inexpensive step involves common sense, she said. “Just take a quick shower.”

“L. Look yourself over,” she said. “Look for ticks, for rashes. You need to look.”

Ms Reid continued, “A. Applying repellants.” Naming two types of good insect sprays she advised consumers to look for DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide, which is the active ingredient in many insect repellents). “But, it has to be at least 20 percent DEET.” She also suggested permethrin, which is a product applied to clothing that dries. “You wear it and it kills ticks,” she said, rather than repel them.

“S is for spray. Spray the perimeter of your yard. You can really reduce the tick abundance,” Ms Reid explained. Repeating a sentiment that Newtown Health Director Donna Culbert has expressed, Ms Reid explained the method. “We believe most people are affected at home.”

A high percentage of tick bites come from residents’ own backyards Ms Culbert agreed this week. “They definitely do. Most of the time that we’re outdoors we’re in our own yard gardening, with the dog…and the periphery is the woods and there is a lot of opportunity for ticks.”

Ms Culbert added, “When people bring ticks in, it’s casual interaction from outdoors, which is probably the backyard.”

Noting the dangers is mid-March, she said, “And now, we’re not thinking it’s tick season, but it is. People need to be really careful. If you’re happy because it’s warm enough to go out, so are the ticks.”

Understanding Ms Reid’s message and the importance of “going through the motions” to check for ticks, for one, Ms Culbert said, “We really want people thinking about it. We need people to be thinking about it.”

Last week, Ms Reid finished the acronym with T. “Treat your pets. They’re an important part of the message — dogs and horses suffer, cats, not so much.” Pets ought to be safe, but residents should also realize that the family pet will carry ticks into the house.

“A tick comes in the home and walks off the pet and onto a family member,” she said. Repeating her earlier plea, she said, “People have to take this seriously. [Lyme] is a disease we’re not getting a handle on. The numbers are climbing.”

BLAST founders “want people to understand how to identify ticks and understand their lifecycle,” she said. “They’re little cesspools of disease and infection; they’re filled with it.

Play areas, wet leaves, tall grasses, and shade-loving ground covers like pachysandra are all habitats that ticks enjoy. Think of your yard, Ms Reid warned, depending on where the deer have traveled, “that’s where the ticks are hatching.” Stonewalls are “mouse hotels,” she said. Both animals feed and carry a tick throughout its lifecycle.

See www.newtown-ct.gov and locate the health district link, which includes the BLAST message and information related to ticks.