Ranger Ready Repellents, a premium brand of tick and insect repellents, presented a $25,000 check to the Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) on Friday, August 2, at 10:30 a.m. at the Global Lyme Alliance headquarters in Stamford, CT. Senator Bob Duff, Connecticut Senate Majority Leader, joined Ranger Ready in presenting the check.
During Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May, Ranger Ready kicked off their partnership with GLA to expand the already successful Be Tick AWARE tick-bite prevention program, which brings more attention to the critical need for year round protection for the entire family. The $25,000 donation will go towards building the Be Tick AWARE program and expanding education efforts to prevent future generations from contracting tick-borne diseases.
“The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates a record 400,000 new cases of Lyme disease will be reported this year, following a record 22% increase in 2017,” said Chris L. Fuentes, founder and CEO of Ranger Ready Repellents. “That increase is alarmingly high; our mission at Ranger Ready is to reduce the rapid rate of increase in tick-borne diseases in the US. Partnering with the GLA enables us to be a part of the solution,” he said.
“Lyme disease is a real threat to the health of Connecticut residents,” said Senator Duff. “This is going to require a unique effort with non-profits, private companies, and the public safety sector coming together to make Lyme disease prevention a priority.”
Increased tick activity is now year-round and in ever larger geographic regions than ever before, and has resulted in an increased number of new cases of Lyme and other dangerous tick-borne illnesses like Powassan virus and Alpha-gal syndrome. Global Lyme Alliance CEO, Scott Santarella, echoed Senator Duff, saying strong partnerships are the key to tick bite prevention locally and globally.
“Only through strong partnerships like the one between Global Lyme Alliance and Ranger Ready Repellents, can we truly make an impact in helping communities learn about tick bite prevention and Lyme disease, and the importance to always Be Tick AWARE. Prevention education is essential to reducing the number of tick-borne illnesses in future generations,” Santarella said.
How to Be Tick AWARE
AVOID areas where ticks live. Ticks thrive in wood piles, long grass, leaf piles, and beach grass.
WEAR light-colored clothing: long pants, sleeves, socks, and closed-toe shoes.
APPLY EPA-approved, CDC-recommended tick repellent to skin and insecticide to clothing and shoes as directed.
REMOVE clothing upon entering the home; toss into dryer at a high temperature for 10-15 minutes to kill ticks.
EXAMINE yourself and your pets for ticks daily. Check everywhere — ticks love to hide!
To learn more about the GLA & Ranger Ready partnership, including tips on how to Be Tick AWARE, visit GLA.org/RangerReady.
