The Massachusetts Department of Public Health [DPH] is warning residents on four key areas for safety as the summer months are soon upon us.
The DPH warns families, especially those with small children, to take action to prevent tick bites, prevent mosquito bits, be safe around water and pools and practice window safety.
Avoid Tick Bites
Grassy areas, spaces with brush is common and wooded areas are ripe for ticks, which can make you ill when they bite.
DPH suggests you check yourself once a day, use repellents that contain DEET, stick to main paths when walking or hiking and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when weather allows.
Avoid Mosquito Bites
To avoid mosquito bites, DPH recommends draining standing water around the home, repair windows and screens, use repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient and reduce exposed skin when possible.
Water and Pool Safety
Drowning is a leading cause of death among children and high risk for children under five-years-old.
Infants and toddlers should be within arms reach when near any water, including the bathtub. All children should be supervised closely around any bodies of water.
Pool owners should completely separate the pool area from any areas accessible to children with fencing. Removing any toys from the pool when not in use can also keep young ones from an accident trying to retrieve them.
Rescue equipment should always be nearby and any child that cannot swim should use a US Coast Guard approved flotation device when in a body of water.
Window Safety
A child falling out of a window is too common and has already happened this summer in Worcester.
Keeping furniture or anything children can climb away from windows is critically important.
Opening windows from the top can also be a very effective in preventing falls. Keeping windows locked when closed is also highly effective.
Most hardware stores also carry quick-release window guards, which DPH says are effective.
