Lyme Action Network Teams Up with Saratoga Farmers’ Market on Tick Prevention and Lyme Disease Awareness Program
Youth Invited to Submit Posters through June 14th at Market; June 18th Education Session Planned
The Lyme Action Network is working with Saratoga Farmers’ Market to encourage local youth to become better educated about tick-bite prevention and Lyme Disease through a poster project and education session at the market.
Students of any age are encouraged to prepare a poster—sized 8 ½”x11″ to 11″x17″ and using any materials—that shows at least one theme of Lyme disease awareness and/or prevention. In preparing posters, lymeactionnetwork.org and lymedisease.org are suggested as accurate resources for information. Here are more details about the poster project, on a flyer that can be printed and shared.
Posters may be submitted to the market’s information table (green market shed) through Saturday, June 14, during market hours (Wednesdays 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) in High Rock Park. The market will take a photo of each poster to put online. The Chocolate Spoon, a market vendor, is giving a free cookie to the first 20 entrants. All participants will be entered for a drawing of market items.
“It’s more important than ever to educate our children about the dangers of tick bites. Kids need to know what ticks look like and that ticks are everywhere—not just the deep woods. We should use repellents when we can. And even when just doing somersaults or light saber fights in the back yard, kids need to remind their parents to do a “tick-check” every day when they come in,” stated Heather Fresh, a local resident with Lyme Action Network.
“Parents should reject old myths and misinformation. We as parents need to advocate for our children’s health. Find doctors who are up-to-date on the latest research findings and understand the various treatment options. Quick and sufficient treatment (not a one or two-pill dose) is the best way to avoid long-term illness, ” Fresh continued.
On June 18 at 4 p.m., the market will host Lyme Action Network to offer a “kid friendly” tick talk with all posters being put on display. After that event, the posters will be displayed at the Saratoga Public Library and at the Children’s Museum of Saratoga.