Summer Safety Tips - Vermont Department of Health

Summer safety tips

Prevent heat-related illness
Keep food safe when grilling
Stay protected from the sun
Keep away pesky bugs
Avoid bacteria and pests at picnics
Avoid poison ivy
Healthy swimming
More information

Warm weather has arrived in Vermont, and the mountains are lush and green again. Swimming at the local pool, hiking in the woods, grilling with friends, and traveling are activities that many people will do during the summer months. You can prevent illness and injuries while enjoying the outdoors by following some simple, yet important health and safety tips.

Prevent Heat-Related Illness

NEVER leave any children, pets or adults in a closed, parked vehicle.

Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others—infants, young children, people age 65 and over, people who have a mental illness, and people with health conditions such as heart disease or high blood pressure.
Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

Keep Food Safe when Grilling

Read A Quick Consumer Guide to Safe Food Handling (pdf)

Wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling food.
Keep food and drinks in separate coolers.
Never leave perishable food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. When the air temperature is above 90 °, do not leave food out for more than one hour.
Use clean utensils and dishes to serve food. Each dish should have its own serving utensils to avoid cross-contamination.
Preheat cooking grills for 20-30 minutes before using.
Allow meat to completely thaw in a refrigerator before placing on a grill.
Marinate meat in a tightly sealed plastic container or sealable plastic bag, and keep refrigerated until ready to use. Do not reuse marinade.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure meats have reached a safe, internal temperature: hamburger-160°; chicken-165°; pork-150°; steak-145°; hot dogs-140°.
Serve grilled foods on a clean dish, not a dish used for raw meat.
Leftovers should be refrigerated or placed in a cooler within one hour after use.

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Stay Protected from the Sun

UV rays are weakest before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Plan activities during these times.
Skin does not have to feel hot to get burned, so protect yourself even on cloudy days.
Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater, and apply at least 20 minutes before going outside.
Wear UVA/UVB protective sunglasses, and a hat.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and juice. Alcohol consumption may cause dehydration.
Protect your arms and legs with loose fitting, tightly woven cotton clothing.
Stay indoors during extremely hot temperatures.

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Keep Pesky Bugs Away

Insect Repellant Facts

Use bug repellant containing DEET to keep mosquitos, insects and ticks away.
Do not use an all-in-one bug repellant and sunscreen, it's best to use two separate products
Do not apply repellent to skin that is under clothing.
Do not apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
Do not spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas.
Do not apply aerosol or pump products directly to the face. Spray your hands and then rub them carefully over the face, avoiding eyes and mouth.
For children, apply repellent on your own hands and then rub them on the child, avoiding child's hands, mouth, and eyes
Remove ticks using a tweezer, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight up to remove the tick. Do not squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick.
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water and wash treated clothes before wearing them again.
Don't forget to check your pets for ticks as well.

Learn more:

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Avoid Bacteria and Pests at Your Picnic

Carry picnic food in a cooler with a cold pack. Remember, a full cooler stays cool longer than a half empty one.
Always take along some foods that don't require refrigeration.
A cooler will stay colder if it is kept inside the car and not in the trunk.
Keep coolers in the shade with the lid closed.
Bring along alcohol-based sanitizers or disposable wipes to keep hands clean.
When applying insect repellant, spray it away from food areas.
Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water and when applicable, remove outer leaves or skin.
Always assume that lake, pond, stream and river waters are not safe to drink. Take bottled water to drink.
Place all trash in nearby receptacles or bring it home with you for disposal.

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Avoid Poison Ivy

How to identify poison ivy

When in the woods, wear long pants, long sleeves, boots, and gloves.
Creams and lotions provide some protection against poison ivy.
Do not let your pets run through wooded areas, they can easily pick up poison ivy.
Do not burn plants that look like poison ivy.
Poison ivy is not contagious and you can not spread it from scratching after you washed all exposed skin thoroughly.
If you have been exposed, clean exposed skin with rubbing alcohol followed by soap and water.
Clothes, shoes, tools or other items that may have contacted poison ivy should be wiped clean with alcohol and water.

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