Ticks are out and active this time of year and they are more likely to bite people who spend time in tall grass near bushes or under trees. Some ticks may carry the organisms that cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Lyme disease. Fortunately, Lyme disease is not common in Western Maryland. However, tick exposures are very common. We recommend avoiding the areas where ticks live, but most children play in many tick-infested places. So check your child for ticks every night at bath time. If you find a tick, use tweezers to grab it at the head and pull with slow, steady force until it is removed. It is not common for ticks to spread disease to humans if they are attached for less than 24 hours. Call us if rash or illness follows a tick bite.