Mass Department of Public Health summer safety tips

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — As the weather heats up, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is giving people a few tips to keep everyone safe this summer.

The Department of Health offered tips on preventing mosquito and tick bites, water and pool safety, window safety, and car safety.

Anyone looking to prevent tick bites should take the following steps:

• Checking for ticks once a day, the department says this is most important.
• Using repellents that contain DEET on exposed skin and those that contain permethrin on clothes.
• When walking or hiking, stick to main pathways and the center of trails if possible.
• Weather permitting, wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into socks.

Anyone looking to prevent mosquito bites, mosquito-related virus’ or diseases, should take the following steps:

• 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 clothing to reduce exposed skin when weather permits.

To prevent a young child from drowning take the following precautions:

• 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.”
• Completely separate the house and play area of the yard from the pool area with a fence.
• Remove floats, balls, and other toys from the pool after use so 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.
• Do not use toys such as “water wings” or “noodles” in place of life jackets.

To prevent a child from falling out of a window, parents and caregivers should do the following:

• 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.

To keep children and animals safe in and around cars should take the following steps:

• 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.

For more information on staying safe this summer, visit the DPH’s website.