Massachusetts Department of Public Health offers summer safety tips

BOSTON (WLNE) — As Summer months continue, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is reminding residents to not let the common-sense precautions go unpracticed.

The department said their top concerns for public health during the summertime include tick bites, mosquito bites, water and pool safety, window safety, car safety and rabies exposure.

Officials offered the following tips to help prevent and tick and mosquito bites:

• Always check yourself for ticks, at least once a day
• Use repellents with an EPA-registered active ingredient
• Repair windows and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks to reduce exposed skin

The department also said drowning is a leading cause of death among young children, some tips they shared for water safety include the following:

• Supervise children around water at all times
• Infants and toddlers should be kept within an arm’s length at all times
• Use USCG approved floatation devices for children who can not swim
• Always swim with a buddy

Officials said window safety is also a concern as young children are more likely to fall from an open window in the summer. To help keep your loved ones safe you can:

• Keep furniture or anything children can climb on away from windows
• Open windows from the top, not the bottom
• Install quick-release window guards

Car safety is also a highlighted concern by the department, not only for animals but for children as well and shared the following tips for car safety:

• Never leave children or animals alone in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are open
• If a child is missing, check inside the vehicle, including the trunk
• Always lock your car and keep keys out of reach of children

Lastly, the department noted exposure to rabies as another top concern for residents in the summer and offered these tips to avoid any exposures:

• Teach children to not approach animals they don’t know even if they look friendly
• Report any animals that appear to be sick or injured to local animal control officials
• Do not let pets roam freely, keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash
• Keep garbage cans securely covered

For more ifnformation on how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this summer, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s website.