Lyme Disease

Special Project for Lyme Awareness Month

Here's a way to educate people in your community about Lyme disease during Lyme Awareness Month! Open your May support group meeting up to the public for a special Lyme Awareness Educational Night.

* Have members post flyers advertising the meeting in local hospitals, clinics, stores, schools, churches, libraries - anywhere you can get permission to put up a flyer.

* See if your newspapers and local radio and television stations will announce the meeting.

* Put a letter in your newspapers Letter to the Editor column. Notify outdoor sports clubs and scout leaders about the meeting.

* If there is the possibility that Lyme disease may increase in your area this year due to the mild winter or large acorn crop, use that in your advertising.

* On meeting night, have literature available for attendees.

* If possible, provide light refreshments, or see if a local business will contribute refreshments.

* Give a presentation presenting facts about Lyme disease, symptoms, prevention techniques, and how to properly remove a tick.

* Have a couple of members give a brief accounting of their Lyme experience.

* Open the meeting up for questions and answers.

* Then, let members and attendees mingle for the remainder of the meeting.

This great idea for spreading the word about Lyme disease was submitted by Linda Lobes, now President of the Michigan Lyme Disease Association.