Exeter YMCA After School educators learning about different types of ticks and how to prevent tick bites.
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Camp Counselor at Camp Lincoln looking at a Deer Tick.
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Rachel Maccini from the UNH Cooperative Extension conducting a "tick sweep" to look for ticks on the property of Camp Lincoln.
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Camp Lincoln summer counselors get ready for this summer by learning about tick safe practices from Rachel Maccini of the UNH Cooperative Extension.
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Tick Safe Practices
With funding from the State of NH’s Division of Public Health Services Building Resilience Against Severe Weather and Climate Effects grant, the region developed a work group that looked at how weather and climate affect the health of the seacoast. We researched a variety of weather related illnesses that can affect the residents of the seacoast and decided that due to rising reported cases of Lyme disease in Rockingham County, safe tick practices and prevention was an important project for the Seacoast Public Health Network to undertake.
The Plan of Action, developed by the workgroup, outlines the following interventions to address the relationship between rising temperatures and increased exposure to ticks due to expanding tick habitat and a longer tick summer season. |
The specific five (5) interventions include:
We met with area infectious disease specialists to identify a clinical champion with the knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of TBDs. Additionally, we met with the UNH Cooperative Extension to identify subject matter experts with knowledge of prevention and control measures that reduce tick habitat and exposure to TBDs. Lastly, we met with camp administrators to discuss the project, gain buy in for participation, and to identify specific camp needs related to the topic.
We partnered with Rachel Maccini, an Entomologist from the UNH Cooperative Extension who provided the expertise and education of ticks and then conducted the presentations. We conducted a pre and posttest assessment to assist us in measuring participants’ knowledge and awareness. When asked how knowledgeable training participants feel about tick identification and prevention, those who feel “very knowledgeable” increased from 4% on the pre-test to 48% on the post test.
We decided to pilot the project at two facilities in the seacoast, and as a result, we partnered with the Exeter Area YMCA After School Program and educated 30 after school staff on Tick Identification and Prevention. Training was also provided to 85 camp counselors at Camp Lincoln in Kingston NH. Stephanie Sturgis at the Exeter YMCA said, “I wanted to reach out and thank you again for coming and working to train our staff on tick prevention. Would you believe at least three sites have used many of the skills they learned to remove ticks and identify them over the past two weeks since you and your team visited us?”
We provided a sample tick policy that our partners could combine with their sunscreen policy. Rachel conducted five “tick sweeps” in April on the property of Camp Lincoln to see if they had any ticks present in their environment. She did not find any ticks at that time.
Dr. Apara Dave, Infectious Disease Specialist at Exeter Hospital and CORE Physicians provided a training to 30 seacoast clinicians at Exeter Hospital on prevention and management of TBDs. Participants received Continuing Education Credits.
We utilized materials that are available on the Tick Free NH, an online statewide educational resource and print media clearinghouse. From this resource, we purchased NH Tick Detective Workbooks for Kids and Tick Removal spoons. We also developed a Tick Resource Guide that includes links to websites such as Tick Free NH, The UNH Cooperative Extension, The State of NH’s Bureau of Infectious Disease Control, Tick Encounter, and information on Tick Identification and Testing.
The project will continue next year as we offer the training to additional camps and after school programs. If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact Mary Cook at mcook@seacoastphn.org. The project has been highlighted in the University of NH's publication, Radius. The link can be found on page 24 at this link https://issuu.com/unhmag/docs/radius_5_web
- Education and training of adult counselors and educators at after-school programs and summer camps to instruct others in tick-safe knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Education of youth participating in school or camp programs (by the adult counselors).
- Policy change related to insect repellant use by targeted camps and after-school programs.
- Environmental control measures to reduce tick habitat by targeted camps and after-school programs.
- Continuing Medical Education (CMEs) for clinicians on prevention and the timely diagnosis and treatment of Tickborne Diseases (TBDs).
We met with area infectious disease specialists to identify a clinical champion with the knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of TBDs. Additionally, we met with the UNH Cooperative Extension to identify subject matter experts with knowledge of prevention and control measures that reduce tick habitat and exposure to TBDs. Lastly, we met with camp administrators to discuss the project, gain buy in for participation, and to identify specific camp needs related to the topic.
We partnered with Rachel Maccini, an Entomologist from the UNH Cooperative Extension who provided the expertise and education of ticks and then conducted the presentations. We conducted a pre and posttest assessment to assist us in measuring participants’ knowledge and awareness. When asked how knowledgeable training participants feel about tick identification and prevention, those who feel “very knowledgeable” increased from 4% on the pre-test to 48% on the post test.
We decided to pilot the project at two facilities in the seacoast, and as a result, we partnered with the Exeter Area YMCA After School Program and educated 30 after school staff on Tick Identification and Prevention. Training was also provided to 85 camp counselors at Camp Lincoln in Kingston NH. Stephanie Sturgis at the Exeter YMCA said, “I wanted to reach out and thank you again for coming and working to train our staff on tick prevention. Would you believe at least three sites have used many of the skills they learned to remove ticks and identify them over the past two weeks since you and your team visited us?”
We provided a sample tick policy that our partners could combine with their sunscreen policy. Rachel conducted five “tick sweeps” in April on the property of Camp Lincoln to see if they had any ticks present in their environment. She did not find any ticks at that time.
Dr. Apara Dave, Infectious Disease Specialist at Exeter Hospital and CORE Physicians provided a training to 30 seacoast clinicians at Exeter Hospital on prevention and management of TBDs. Participants received Continuing Education Credits.
We utilized materials that are available on the Tick Free NH, an online statewide educational resource and print media clearinghouse. From this resource, we purchased NH Tick Detective Workbooks for Kids and Tick Removal spoons. We also developed a Tick Resource Guide that includes links to websites such as Tick Free NH, The UNH Cooperative Extension, The State of NH’s Bureau of Infectious Disease Control, Tick Encounter, and information on Tick Identification and Testing.
The project will continue next year as we offer the training to additional camps and after school programs. If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact Mary Cook at mcook@seacoastphn.org. The project has been highlighted in the University of NH's publication, Radius. The link can be found on page 24 at this link https://issuu.com/unhmag/docs/radius_5_web