Your typical scout will spend a considerable amount of time outdoors. Exposed to ticks. Which, around here, are fairly crazy about transmitting tick-bourne encephalitis and Lyme disease. People are used to it, know about proper protection and usually act accordingly. Which is why it never ceases to amaze me when I get myself into any variation of the following exchange:
Me: We have a field trip next week, a good idea for your child to go to because *insert several reasons of value*
Concerned mother: Yes, but there are ticks out there, it's warm enough already. She could get Lyme disease.
Me: Yes, ma'm, which is exactly why we have told you all repeatedly to use proper protection against ticks. You know, long sleeves and pants, repellents...
CM: Yes, but she could still get one and be very very sick.
Me: Yes ma'm, which is exactly why we make it a point to inspect children daily for ticks and erythema migrans. So if she does get it, we'll know soon and she'll be treated effectively by the nearest primary care doctor. You see, Lyme disease is bacterial in origin and can be treated very well by antibiotics.
CM: Yes, but, she could get meningitis, as well. You can't treat that.
Me: Very true. That is why we urge you to have your child vaccinated. Not only for scouting purposes, but because she could very easily be bitten by an infected tick in your own back-yard.
CM: Oh no, I won't have her vaccinated. She can just stop going to those scout thingies. And, young lady, we most certainly do not have ticks in our backyard! The nerve!
Me: Ma'm, most people with tick bites get them in their back-yard. There's a lot of them there.
CM: We keep a clean yard. No ticks there! And anyway, those vaccines don't work at all, AND they're bad for my child!
Me: *rolls eyes and gives up*
Me: We have a field trip next week, a good idea for your child to go to because *insert several reasons of value*
Concerned mother: Yes, but there are ticks out there, it's warm enough already. She could get Lyme disease.
Me: Yes, ma'm, which is exactly why we have told you all repeatedly to use proper protection against ticks. You know, long sleeves and pants, repellents...
CM: Yes, but she could still get one and be very very sick.
Me: Yes ma'm, which is exactly why we make it a point to inspect children daily for ticks and erythema migrans. So if she does get it, we'll know soon and she'll be treated effectively by the nearest primary care doctor. You see, Lyme disease is bacterial in origin and can be treated very well by antibiotics.
CM: Yes, but, she could get meningitis, as well. You can't treat that.
Me: Very true. That is why we urge you to have your child vaccinated. Not only for scouting purposes, but because she could very easily be bitten by an infected tick in your own back-yard.
CM: Oh no, I won't have her vaccinated. She can just stop going to those scout thingies. And, young lady, we most certainly do not have ticks in our backyard! The nerve!
Me: Ma'm, most people with tick bites get them in their back-yard. There's a lot of them there.
CM: We keep a clean yard. No ticks there! And anyway, those vaccines don't work at all, AND they're bad for my child!
Me: *rolls eyes and gives up*