Fall seasonal activities and safety guidance for families

As the autumn season approaches, families are encouraged to balance seasonal activities with safety precautions. Traditional fall activities include outdoor pursuits such as hayrides, visiting corn mazes, pumpkin picking, and scavenger hunts, which aim to foster family togetherness and purposeful connection.

While enjoying the outdoors, families should remain vigilant regarding tick prevention. Although tick activity in the United States is most prominent from April through September, exposure remains a risk during the transition to fall. To protect children and pets, experts recommend staying on hiking trails, wearing long sleeves and light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot, and using EPA-registered insect repellents. Proper clothing and awareness of grassy or wooded areas can help mitigate the risk of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease.