Content originally from Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System
Now that the summer holidays are here, many families will be planning trips out to help entertain children.
Zoos, farms and visitor attractions with animals are always popular with families, especially during school holidays, and in Essex there are lots to choose from for a fun day out. However it is important to be aware of the risks to help prevent accidents and illness.
Safety at the farm and zoo
Visiting the farm or zoo is an enjoyable and educational experience for many people, particularly children. However, visiting either venue carries a small risk of catching infection from animals or the environment.
Animals can be the source of several bugs that can be passed from animals to humans and cause illness. Some can be particularly serious for children or pregnant women.
People can follow simple steps to help reduce their risk.
However, if your child is having a serious allergic reaction and has an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen), you should use it immediately. For more information on allergies visit nhs.uk
Be ‘tick aware’
You could be exposed to ticks whenever you spend time outdoors, including when in your garden or the local park.
Ticks mainly attach to animals, but sometimes they may bite you or your family. It is important to remember that bites can occur on any part of the body and more than one tick can be attached at a time.
You can reduce the chance of tick bites by walking on clearly defined paths, using insect repellent and performing regular tick checks.
Some tick bites can result in infection, so it is important to remove ticks safely and as quickly as possible. The safest way to remove a tick is by using a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool.
For more information, search for the phrases ‘ticks’ and ‘Lyme disease’ on these websites: http://www.nhs.uk http://www.gov.uk
Download the tick awareness leaflet from the UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA)
SWF Health & Social Care Group 