Massachusetts Department of Public Health offers summer safety guidance

BOSTON – As summer approaches, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is reminding residents to take recommended precautions to keep everyone  safe this summer, especially young children and those who work outdoors.

“Summer in New England is about being outdoors in the sun, near the water, on the beach, in the mountains, in parks and in yards,” said Department of Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “It’s also a time to recognize the importance of taking seasonal precautions to make this wonderful season safer and more enjoyable.”

Preventing tick bites

Certain types of ticks can bite and cause illnesses such as Lyme disease and Powassan virus. Ticks are most commonly found in damp, grassy, ​​bushy, or wooded areas, such as your own yard. Ticks can only attach to a person through direct contact; they cannot jump or fly. To protect yourself from tick bites, follow these steps:

• Check yourself for ticks at least once a day. This is the most important thing you can do.
• Use a repellent that contains an EPA-registered active ingredient. Always follow label directions.
• When the weather is nice, wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks. This keeps ticks away from your skin and makes them easier to spot on your clothes.
• After spending time outdoors, you can wash off ticks in the shower before they can establish, and putting your clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes can kill them.
• Pets that spend time outdoors are also exposed to ticks and may bring them into the home. Talk to your veterinarian about the best ways to protect your animals from ticks and tick-borne diseases.

 

Avoid mosquito bites

Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV) are two mosquito-borne diseases that occur in Massachusetts. Last year, there were no cases of EEE in Massachusetts, but six cases of WNV. Mosquito surveillance is essential to monitor mosquito activity during the summer months. DPH provides up-to-date information on activity during the season on its Massachusetts Arbovirus Updates page.

Although the risk of human infection with EEE or WNV does not occur until mid-to-late summer, people have an important role to play in protecting themselves against these diseases, which can be very serious. How to prepare for mosquito season:

• Drain standing water around your home and yard to prevent mosquito breeding.
• Repair window and door screens to keep mosquitoes from entering your home.
• Use mosquito repellents that contain EPA-approved ingredients as directed.
• When the weather is nice, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to avoid exposed skin. 

For more information on preventing mosquito- and tick-borne diseases, visit DPH's Mosquito and Tick page.

Natural Water Swimming and Pool Safety

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 14 across the United States and in Massachusetts. For children under 5, backyard pools pose the greatest danger. Here's how to prevent water injuries and drowning:

• Always supervise children in and around water. 
• Infants and toddlers should always remain at arm's length and be "touch and watch" in or around water, including bathtubs. 
• Teach young children to always ask permission before going near water.
• Never dive headfirst into water. Make sure water depth is correctly marked on the pool deck and vertical walls.
• Never swim alone in unfamiliar waters.
• Watch out for fallen branches and sharp stones in the water.
• Do not swim during storms or thunder.
• Keep home and garden play areas completely separated from the pool area by a fence at least 120cm high. Consider automatic door locks or alarms to prevent access.
• Remove swim rings, balls, and other toys from the pool after use to discourage children from reaching them. Secure the pool to prevent children from re-entering it after they've finished swimming.
• Keep rescue equipment (such as shepherds and life jackets) and a phone near the pool.
• Keep a first aid kit that meets ANSI 2308.1-2015 standards (including items such as band-aids, trauma pads, and a CPR mask) near the pool.
• For children who cannot swim, use a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. 
• DPH worked with the USCG to develop a fit testing video to assist with properly fit testing of life jackets.
• Do not use toys such as "water wings" or "noodles" as substitutes for life jackets; they are not intended to protect swimmers. 

Public Swimming Areas:

• When possible, choose swimming spots with lifeguards and swim only in designated swimming areas.
• Always swim with a partner.
• Pay attention to beach signs: DPH collects data on beach water quality and informs the public about bacteria levels to minimize swimming-related illnesses and injuries.
• Know the limits of your swimming ability: Each summer, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) offers free swimming lessons to children at select public pools across Massachusetts through the Learn to Swim Program.

Consider becoming a lifeguard: DCR is hiring lifeguards to work at inland and coastal beaches and pools. Hourly rates for pool and waterfront employees range from $22 to $27 depending on position and related qualifications. Qualified applicants could receive a signing bonus of up to $1,050. For more information, visit the DCR Lifeguard website.

Window Security

Falls from windows by young children are particularly serious, but preventable. Insect screens are not strong enough to stop children from falling out of windows. To prevent falls from windows, parents and caregivers should:

• Keep furniture and all objects that children could climb on away from windows.
• Keep windows closed and locked if small children are around.
• To ventilate, only open windows that are out of children's reach.
• Window bars are not a safety measure and many children fall out of windows. 
• If possible, open windows from the top rather than the bottom and lock all doors and windows that do not open.
• Supervise children at all times.
• Install quick-release window screens, available at most hardware stores.

For more information on preventing child injuries, visit the DPH Injury Prevention and Control Program website

Car Safety

Leaving children or animals in a car is very dangerous. During a New England summer, the temperature inside a closed car can rise quickly and make the car a dangerous place for children or animals left inside, even for a moment.

To protect small children and animals in and around the car:

• Never leave children or animals in a parked car, even if they are asleep, have their seat belt on, or have the windows open.
• Always check the front and back of the car before locking the doors and leaving.
• If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk.
• Remind yourself that there are children or animals in the car by placing a purse or briefcase on the back seat so you can check it when you exit the car.
• Always lock your vehicle and keep keys out of the reach of children.
• Provide proper supervision when children play near parked vehicles.

If you see a child or animal riding alone in a car in the hot sun, call the police. If they appear distressed due to the heat, get them outside as soon as possible and call 911 immediately. 

Remember that children 12 and under must ride in the back seat and be properly secured, even for short errand trips. Infants and toddlers should remain in rear-facing car seats until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Children should ride rear-facing until they are at least 2-4 years old and/or reach the car seat manufacturer's weight limit. For more information on child vehicle safety, visit the DPH website.

Preventing Exposure to Rabies

All mammals (animals with fur) can be infected with rabies, and more than 100 rabid animals are found in Massachusetts each year. Most of these cases occur in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats, marmots, and foxes, but some pets (especially cats) and livestock can also become infected with rabies.

A person can be exposed to the rabies virus if they are bitten by an animal infected with the rabies virus or if the animal's saliva gets into a wound or into the person's eyes, nose, or mouth. Anyone who has been bitten or scratched by an animal, or who has found a bat in a room where someone is sleeping or where small children or pets are present, should call their local health department or DPH Epidemiology Division at 617-983-6800 and ask for the following advice.

Other rabies prevention measures include:

• Teach children to never approach strange animals, even if they appear friendly.
• Report any animals that appear sick or injured to your local animal control officer. 
• Do not keep wild animals as pets, and enjoy wildlife from a distance. 
• Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be regularly vaccinated against rabies. This will protect them in case of exposure to the disease.
• Do not leave pet food or water outside. Empty bowls also attract wild and stray animals.
• Don't let pets roam free - keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash.
• Hide trash safely - open trash attracts wild and stray animals.
• Cap your chimneys and repair any holes in your attic, basement, and porch to prevent wildlife like bats and raccoons from entering your home.

Sun and heat protection 

If you spend time outdoors for leisure or work, high temperatures and increased sunlight require additional precautions.

• Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Drinks such as coffee and soda can cause dehydration, so you should drink water afterwards.
• Wear sunglasses and sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) 15-20 minutes before going outside, and reapply every 2 hours or wear protective clothing to avoid sunburn.
• Seek shade and sunbathe during the day.

For more tips on sun and heat protection, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Extreme Heat and Your Health" website or the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency website.