BOSTON – Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) issued summer safety guidance this week with tips on common-sense precautions for health and safety.
Prevent Tick Bites
Ticks are small creatures that can cause illnesses like Lyme disease and Powassan virus. They are often found in moist, grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, even in your own backyard. Unlike other insects, ticks cannot jump or fly, and they only attach to you when you come into direct contact with them. To safeguard against tick bites, follow these steps:
- Check yourself for ticks once a day — it’s the single most important thing you can do.
- Use repellents with an EPA-registered active ingredient; always follow the directions on the label.
- Weather permitting, wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into socks. This will help keep ticks away from your skin and make it easier to spot ticks on your clothing.
- After spending time outdoors, a shower can help rinse off a tick before it becomes attached and putting your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes can help kill ticks.
- Pets that spend time outdoors are exposed to ticks, too, and may bring ticks back inside. Talk to your veterinarian about the best ways to protect your animals from ticks and tick-borne disease.
Prevent Mosquito Bites
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV) are mosquito-borne diseases present in Massachusetts. Although there were no cases of EEE reported last year, there were eight cases of WNV. While the risk of human infection with EEE or WNV is highest in mid to late summer, individuals have an important role in protecting themselves from these potentially severe illnesses. To prepare for mosquito season, DPH offers the following tips:
- Drain standing water in and around your house or yard to prevent mosquito breeding.
- Repair window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
- Use a mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient according to the directions.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to reduce exposed skin when weather permits.
The DPH provides additional information preventing disease spread by ticks and mosquitos here.
Water and Pool Safety
Drowning is a leading cause of death among children, with increased risk for those under five years old.
Tips to prevent water-related injury and drowning:
- Supervise children in and around water at all times.
- Whenever infants and toddlers are in or around water, including the bathtub, an adult should be within an arm’s length at all times providing “touch supervision.”
- Teach young children to always ask for permission before going near the water.
- Do not dive headfirst into the water.
- Do not swim during a storm or when there is lightning.
- Completely separate the house and play area of the yard from the pool area with a fence. Consider automatic door locks or alarms to prevent access.
- Remove floats, balls, and other toys from the pool after use so that children are not tempted to reach for them. After children are done swimming, secure the pool so they cannot get back in.
- Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd’s hook or life preserver) and a phone near the pool.
- For children who cannot swim, use a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. DPH, in cooperation with the USCG, has created a fit test video that can assist with proper fit testing of life jackets: https://youtu.be/1I3VZf-NqPc.
- Do not use toys such as “water wings” or “noodles” in place of life jackets. These are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
When in public swimming areas:
- Select swimming sites that have lifeguards whenever possible, and swim only in designated swimming areas.
- Always swim with a buddy.
- Look for signage at beaches. DPH collects beach water quality data and notifies the public about bacteria levels to minimize swimming-associated illness and injury.
- Know the limits of your swimming skills. Through the Learn to Swim program, the state will provide free swimming lessons to children at select pools across the Commonwealth starting in July 2023.
Window Safety
Falls from open windows cause significant injuries to children, with increased risk for younger children. Screens do not protect children from window falls.
Prevent falls from windows with these tips:
- Keep furniture – and anything a child can climb on – away from windows.
- Open windows from the top, not the bottom, when possible and lock all unopened doors and windows.
- Be sure children are always supervised.
- Install quick-release window guards which can be found in most hardware stores.
Car Safety
Leaving children or animals in a parked car during the summer can cause serious injury or death.
Here are tips for car safety this summer:
- Never leave children or animals alone in a parked vehicle, even when they are asleep or restrained, and even if the windows are open.
- Always check inside the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away.
- If a child is missing, check your vehicle first, including the trunk.
- Do things to remind yourself that a child or animal is in the vehicle, such as placing your purse or briefcase in the back seat so you will check there when you leave the vehicle.
- Always lock your car and keep the keys out of children’s reach.
- Ensure adequate supervision when children are playing in areas near parked motor vehicles.
