WELL+BEING
Stay healthy by avoiding ticks written by BRITTANY WEDD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DISCOVERY STATION AT HAGERSTOWN INC. At Discovery Station, we encourage children to have fun and learn as they discover the incredible world around them. Of course, that involves visiting the museum and spending a day exploring. Our interactive exhibits provide learning opportunities in aviation, robotics, art and – through our rainforest exhibit – the natural world. Still, we encourage children to continue the theme of discovery and exploration outside the museum. Whether that involves visiting a local park, state forest or exploring their backyard, there are lessons everywhere. Playing and learning outside is incredibly important for a healthy, developing mind and body.
But we also teach people about being safe while they learn. That means wearing safety goggles while launching mentos and soda, gloves when making slime, and when playing outside, being aware of things that can cause harm. Much of this is simple knowledge to a child: See a Snake? Walk away. However, there is a potential threat so small and often overlooked that can cause more harm than a snake. That tiny threat might have a small bite, but it could potentially carry long-lasting health conditions. What is it? A tick. Ticks often are mistaken for insects, but they’re actually parasitic arachnids that consume blood from hosts. They are prevalent in high grass and outdoor vegetation, but they also can be found in short grass and walking on surfaces such as sidewalks and fences. The average tick can lay up to 5,000 eggs, and in mild winters, tick numbers increase, as do cases of tickborne diseases.
