Most people get Lyme disease between the months of May and August. The best way to prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses is to avoid contact with ticks:
· Wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Light colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks.
· Tuck your pants into your socks and tuck your shirt into your pants.
· Use insect repellent (with DEET) on your skin and apply permethrin to your clothes.
· Check your clothing and skin carefully after being outdoors and remove ticks immediately.
· If bitten by a tick, wash area of bite thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antiseptic to area of the bite.
· Mark on a calendar the date that you were bitten, and then watch for any changes in your health every day for the next month.
· Keep your lawn mowed, cut overgrown brush, and clear away leaf litter from your home.
· Inspect any pets daily and remove any ticks found.
Water, bugs, and the sun, are a few of the things kids experience more of in the summertime. See this US CDC feature on keeping kids safe and healthy this summer.
We’ve already experienced some severe weather. Know how to protect yourself in the event of thunderstorms and lightning. Power failures are common in severe summer storms. Check out this food safety video from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to make sure you keep food safe after a power failure.
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has established important new rules about sunscreen labels to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
This Cornell University video has helpful information about safe grilling practices.
