Press Release  Massachusetts Department of Public Health offers summer safety guidance

Boston — With summer approaching, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) reminds residents to take common-sense precautions to keep everyone, especially young children, safe this summer. 

“As residents and visitors start to make the most out of outdoor summer activities, I encourage everyone to remember some simple precautions to stay safe and healthy,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Stay hydrated, use insect repellent, be mindful around bodies of water, and prepare for severe weather, including extreme heat, to help make for a fun and healthy summer for all.”

Prevent tick bites 

Some kinds of ticks can bite and make you sick with diseases like Lyme disease and Powassan virus, or allergies like alpha-gal syndrome. Ticks are most commonly found in damp, grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, including your own backyard. Follow these steps to help protect yourself from tick bites:  

• Use tick 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, taking a shower can help rinse off a tick before it becomes attached, and putting clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes can help kill ticks. 
• Check yourself for ticks once a day; if you find an attached tick, remove it promptly using fine tweezers or a tick removal tool. 
• Pets that spend time outdoors 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

The risk for human infection of the mosquito-borne diseases West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) starts to increase in mid to late summer in Massachusetts. DPH posts updates about local risk throughout the season on the Massachusetts Arbovirus Update page. 

To prepare for mosquito season:  

• 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 on the label. 
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to reduce exposed skin when the weather permits. 

For more information about preventing mosquito and tickborne illness, visit DPH’s Mosquitoes and Ticks page.

Extreme heat safety 

Climate change is increasing the number, as well as the intensity, of extreme heat events in Massachusetts. High temperatures and increased sun exposure mean that additional precautions should be taken when spending time outside, either recreationally or on the job, to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.  

• Seek shade and take breaks from the sun throughout the day. Use air conditioning if available - otherwise, use fans, take cool showers, or visit public cooling centers.  
• Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Drinks like coffee and soda that contain caffeine may dehydrate, so they should be followed with water. Limit alcohol use, as it can reduce awareness of overheating while increasing the risk of heat-related illness through dehydration.  
• Wear sunglasses, apply sunscreen (SPF of at least 30) 15-20 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours, and wear protective clothing to avoid sunburn.  
• When possible, limit outdoor activities during the hottest hours (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), seek shade, and wear light, breathable clothing.  
• Check for Heat-Related Symptoms, including unusually heavy sweating, shortness of breath, and dizziness.  
• Avoid outdoor activity when air quality is low. An air quality monitoring map is available on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection page.

To stay informed with real-time heat forecasts and community heat resources to help you plan, prepare, and respond to unhealthy heat in Massachusetts, visit the Unhealthy Heat Forecast Website and sign up to receive Unhealthy Heat alerts.

Additional extreme heat safety tips are available on DPH’s Extreme Heat page, Heat and Health Tips for Watch Parties and Summer Events, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) website. 

Water and pool safety

Drowning is a leading cause of death among young children, nationally and in Massachusetts. To help prevent water-related injury and drowning:

• Only swim at or within designated swimming areas. Swimming outside of the designated swimming areas or at waterfronts where swimming is prohibited can be dangerous.   
• Stay within arm’s reach of younger children and keep a close eye on older children near the water. Parents and other guardians serve as the first and primary line of safety for their children.
• Teach children to always ask permission before going near the water.
• Do not dive headfirst into the water. 
• Do not swim during a storm or when there is thunder or lightning.  
• Do not swim beyond your skillset. 
• For those who cannot swim, keep to shallow areas or use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Information on proper fit testing of life jackets is available in this video created by DPH in cooperation with the USCG.  
• Do not use toys such as “water wings” or “noodles” in place of life jackets.  
• Enroll children in swimming lessons. Each year, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provides free swimming lessons to children at select pools across the state in July and August through the Learn to Swim program. 

In public swimming areas: 

• If caught in a rip current, do not swim against it. Swim parallel to the shoreline to escape it and then at an angle toward the beach. 
• If a person in your group goes missing, notify lifeguards and park staff immediately, then start your search. 

 
Swimming at beaches with high levels of bacteria may cause illness. How to know if it is safe to swim: 

• Know before you go. Find out from your local health department or DPH if the beach you want to go to is monitored regularly and posted for closures. DPH maintains a beach water quality dashboard during the swimming season. 
• Look for signs posted at the beach. Check for any warnings or beach closures indicating that the water is not safe because of bacteria, riptides, or other hazards. 

Swimming conditions can also vary throughout the day. Below are a few recommendations for deciding when and where to swim: 

• Check the weather. 
• Avoid swimming after heavy rain events - bacterial levels tend to rise due to runoff after heavy rains. 
• Watch for “signs” of water pollution, such as discolored, fast-flowing, and strong-smelling water. 
• Avoid swimming next to drainpipes, outlets, or other obvious sources of pollution. 
• Do not swim near trash or street litter floating in the water. 
• Avoid swallowing the water - when waterborne pathogens are present, most swimmers are exposed when they swallow the water.  
• Swim only in areas designated as “swim beaches.” Do not swim in rivers or streams unless they are designated swim beaches. 

Consider becoming a lifeguard: DCR is recruiting lifeguards to work at agency-managed inland and coastal beaches, as well as swimming pools. Positions are available in Boston, Revere, Lawrence, Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Concord, Watertown, Everett, Malden, and Waltham. Candidates can earn from $22 to $27 an hour, with additional bonuses available for staff who work through the end of the season. For more information, visit DCR’s lifeguarding website.

Food safety

Summer is peak season for foodborne illnesses when germs start to grow in food that is left out in the heat during outdoor activities like cookouts, picnics, or travel. Steps to prevent foodborne illnesses:

• Wash hands and surfaces often. Do not handle or serve food while sick.  
• Do not cross-contaminate. Keep raw food separate from cooked foods. Wear gloves or use utensils when handling ready-to-eat foods. 
• Cook to proper temperatures and refrigerate promptly. 
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Cold foods can be left out for up to 6 hours but must be discarded after that. Hot foods can be left out at room temperature for up to 4 hours and then thrown away.  

If you suspect you have become ill after eating food prepared outside of a private home (e.g., from a restaurant) or after attending a party or event, report it on the Report My Meal page. 

Window safety

Falls from windows involving young children can cause serious injuries. Screens are not strong enough to protect children from falling out of windows. To prevent window falls, parents and caregivers should: 

• 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 are available in most hardware stores. 

To learn more about childhood injury prevention, visit the DPH Injury Prevention and Control Program website. 

Car safety

Leaving children and animals inside a vehicle can be very dangerous. In the summer months in New England, the temperature in a closed car can rise quickly, and the vehicle can become a deadly place for a child or animal left in it, even for just a moment.

To keep young children and animals safe in and around cars:

• 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. 

If you see a child or animal alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible and call 911 immediately.

All children ages 12 and under should always ride in the back seat, properly restrained. Infants and toddlers should remain in rear-facing car seats until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. More information on child passenger safety is available on DPH's Transportation Safety website. 

Helmet safety

A helmet can help protect from serious injury, like concussions and skull fractures, and death when biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, using an e-bike, an e-moto, a scooter, or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Helmets should be worn at all times by all riders, regardless of age, ability, purpose, or duration of activity. 

• A helmet should fit properly and be worn consistently, be well-maintained, age-appropriate, and appropriately certified for use. Helmets designed for some activities, like skateboarding, may not be appropriate for others, like riding an e-bike. 
• Helmets should have a secure buckle to keep them from falling off on impact. 
• Cracked or damaged helmets, or those that sustained impact from a crash, should be replaced immediately. 

Preventing rabies exposures

All mammals (animals with fur) can get rabies. People are most commonly exposed to the rabies virus when an infected animal bites them, or when the animal’s saliva gets into an open cut or the person’s eyes, nose, or mouth. People who are bitten or scratched by an animal, or who find a bat in a room where someone was sleeping, or with a young child or pet, should call their local board of health or the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800 for advice.

Other rabies prevention steps include:

• Teach children never to approach animals they don’t know – even if they appear friendly. 
• Report any animal that seems sick or injured to the local animal control official. 
• Enjoy wild animals from a distance and do not keep wild animals as pets.  
• Make sure pets are vaccinated against rabies. By law, all dogs, cats, and ferrets must be regularly vaccinated against rabies. 
• Do not leave food or water for pets outside. Even empty bowls will attract wild and stray animals. 
• Do not let pets roam freely. Keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash. 
• Keep garbage securely covered. Open garbage will attract wild or stray animals. 
• Keep chimneys capped and repair holes in attics, cellars, and porches to help keep wild animals like bats and raccoons out of the house. 

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