Enjoy Your Summer With These Safety Tips

Summer time is here and that means spending more time outside, but the Central Massachusetts Regional Public Health Alliance wants to make sure you do it safely.

To help their cause, the alliance has put out their Splash into Summer With Safety in Mind tip sheets.

Here are some highlights, for more tips click on the links throughout the article.

• Prime mosquito-biting hours are usually dusk to dawn, but ticks are out at all times. Empty out any standing water on your property to eliminate breeding grounds. Secure all window and door screens tight and patch any holes.
• If you find an attached tick, don't panic, ticks are easy to remove with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Consult your healthcare provider if you develop a rash, fever, body aches, or fatigue in the 1-3 weeks following a bite. It could be any number of illnesses.
• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
• It's always a good time to learn CPR—Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation—especially if you'll be supervising others.
• Prevent water-related injuries and drowning by swimming with a buddy and swimming where there's a lifeguard. Always use life jackets and secure personal flotation devices—do not substitute air-filled or foam toys for safety gear.
• Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Also, put cooked meat on a clean platter, rather than back on the one that held the raw meat, to avoid cross-contamination.

Do you have summer safety tips or questions? Share with us in the comments and we can help make Shrewsbury safer this summer.