Beware: There's a dark side of sunny days


Tick tick tick
According to the Centers for Disease Control, cases of Lyme Disease rose by close to 200 percent in Virginia between 2005 and 2010, and the effects of the disease can be devastating. As detailed in a Hook cover story, Lyme is carried by the deer tick, also known as the blacklegged tick, and while most people think they'll be able to spot the early stage from the classic "bullseye" rash that's not always possible. Since Lyme's not the only serious illness carried by ticks, your best bet is to avoid getting bitten. That means taking preventative measures when you're outside in tall grass or wooded areas– long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks help keep ticks off, as do DEET-containing bug sprays. Finally, always check yourself and your children for ticks after outdoor outings.

Heads up
Thirty years ago, bike-riding children thrilled to feel the wind blowing through their hair as they hurtled down hills and went over jumps, heads unencumbered– and at risk. These days, kids don helmets even when riding on the hill-less and car-less stretch of the Rivanna Trail because they have to– it's law in the city for children 14 and under. But helmets may cause a problem of their own, according to some recent research that suggests they can increase the risk of neck injury by "digging in" when a rider falls, causing the rider's head to snap back. That's the argument made by Richmond-based cyclist, engineer and father J. Tyler Ballance, who says helmets for road riding and high speed racing make sense, but may actually add risk when kids wear them while riding in cul-de-sacs or on paved paths. No matter what, when you or your child are wearing a bike helmet, make sure it's strapped properly to ensure it works in case of a fall. According to the National Highway Transportation Administration, that means the strap should be secured snugly under the chin (no more than two fingers should fit between strap and skin), and the helmet should be on the head squarely to ensure the forehead and the back of the head are adequately protected.

Deadly falls
Among the most popular hikes in the area is the steep climb to Crabtree Falls in the George Washington National Forest in Nelson County, but it's also the most deadly. Twenty-seven people have fallen to their deaths there, most– including the most recent in 2010– after ignoring posted warnings to stay off the moss-covered rocks. Indeed, any time you have rocks and water near steep drop-offs, the conditions are right for a potentially lethal slip.

Hot cars
In 2007, an Earlysville mom paid the ultimate price for her distraction when she forgot her nine-month-old son was in the car as she worked all day at the Judge Advocate General school. The baby died of hyperthermia, and his mother, who endured a criminal trial, is far from the only parent to make such a tragic mistake. In warmer months, cars become hotboxes that, in mere minutes, can soar to upwards of 100 degrees. Small children and animals, unable to escape on their own, should never be left unattended– even for a quick jaunt into the grocery store. If you happen upon an unattended vehicle with a child or pet inside, don't hesitate to call 911. A life may depend on it.

Heat stroke
Hot humid days can be deadly, particularly for babies, the elderly, and athletes. Such was the case on a 97-degree day in 2005 with talented Albemarle High School runner Kelly Watt, who collapsed and died after a run along Ridge Road. Nausea, vomiting, fatigue and confusion are symptoms, and if untreated, heat stroke can be fatal. Staying hydrated is key, and avoiding extreme exertion when the temperature soars is another important preventative measure.


This is a warning from city residents. We've lived here for decades and in past years we got a couple tick bites a year- not this year - almost everyday we're finding the small ones and the large ones crawling, burrowing and attached to our bodies, and we aren't even in the woods, just our back yard.

Be thankful you don't live in the county. Last week I got 9 embedded ticks off me in a 36 hour period. What was I doing? Mowing the grass. A regular lawn. On a riding mower. And, this isn't even the record. Last spring I got 16 off me in a 48 hour period. They seem to drop from hanging limbs, bushes, etc. Showering when you come in doesn't seem to affect them. And they are extremely tiny. I've lived here all my life and until the last couple years I had one or two tick bites a year. Maybe a winter with some extended cold weather might decrease the tick population. And, maybe someone else can do it, but I'll take my chances with the ticks rather than the long sleeves and long pants in the hot summer. I can't last even 20 minutes outside dressed that way.

Hope this helps -

stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.
This technique has worked every time I've used it
(and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic
for the patient and easier for me.."

Thank you city resident. It happens to be lawn mowing day today and it's my husband's turn. We'll be trying out your technique.

Excellent program everything you ever wanted to know about tick borne illnesses.
One thing I learned is that almost everyone gets a rash but sometimes doesn't see it .

I'm having good luck with permethrin treated pants
and shirt--very light weight too.

Do whatever you can to avoid getting bitten. We use Tick Tubes, which a neighbor recommended last year, and think they're great. you just put the cardboard tubes out in your property in the spring and mice do the work, bringing the pesticide-treated cotton contained in the tubes back to their nests. If you can control the tick population while it is still on its earliest host (mice), you are way ahead of the game, before they start feeding on big mammals like us.