Middle Gate Students Learn About Ticks

By Eliza Hallabeck

Middle Gate third grade students learned about ticks and preventative measures to take on Thursday, April 26, when District Health Director Donna Culbert and author Geri Rodda, RN, visited classrooms.

Ms Rodda is the author of Lyme in Rhyme and The Flu and You. As the visitors made their way through the different third grade classrooms at Middle Gate, Ms Rodda read Lyme in Rhyme for students, and both women answered questions for the students.

Connecticut has a large number of ticks, said Ms Culbert, but she told the students not to be afraid of going outdoors. Ms Culbert and Ms Rodda stressed taking the right precautions to prevent tick-related diseases, like Lyme disease.

“There are a lot of things you can do to check yourself,” said Ms Culbert.

Ms Rodda and Ms Culbert also fielded many questions from students, including what to do if they discover a tick, and what happens if someone contracts Lyme disease. To the second question, Ms Rodda explained an antibiotic is available to squash the disease.