It's springtime and, for most people, that
means it's time to go outside and enjoy the weather.
The return of warmer temperatures brings thoughts of freedom,
relaxation, exploration, and being closer to nature. Whether you're
relaxing in the backyard, turning up your garden, hitting the pool,
or exploring the great outdoors, here are some ways to help keep
you and your family healthy this spring and summer.
Beware of Bugs
Warmer temperatures aren't just
attractive to people. Mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other insects
thrive in warmer weather, and they can transmit West Nile virus,
Lyme disease, and other illnesses. Using an appropriate
insect repellent and applying it properly allows you to
continue to play and work outdoors with a reduced risk of mosquito
and tick bites. Prime mosquito-biting hours are usually dusk to
dawn. Pay special attention to protection during these hours, or
avoid being outdoors. Young ticks are so small that they can be
difficult to see, but both young and adult ticks hungrily look to
animals and sometimes people to bite. To protect yourself from tick
bites, avoid tick-infested areas (especially places with
leaf-litter and high grasses), wear light-colored clothing so you
can see ticks crawling on you, and use repellent containing DEET.
You can also treat clothing with permethrin, which protects through
several washings. Always follow the directions on repellent
packaging! After you have been outside, check your body, your
clothing, your children, and your pets for ticks. Here's
how to check for ticks, remove them from your clothesand how to
remove them
from skin safely once they've bitten… getting the whole tick,
not just the body! Consult your healthcare provider if you become
ill in the 1-3 weeks following a bite. It could be any number of
illnesses.
Pesticides, vegetation-free play areas, and
landscaping techniques for tick-free zones can also help limit
your exposure to ticks and other insects.
Healthy Pets, Healthy People
While you're outside
enjoying the weather, remember to protect your pets too.
Keeping your pets healthy helps to keep you and your family
healthy. Children can get
roundworm and hookworm
from soil contaminated by pet feces (stool), so make sure that
puppies and kittens are seen by a veterinarian and dewormed. Protect
family pets from ticks and fleas
by keeping them on a flea and tick control program and talk to your
veterinarian for advice on the appropriate mosquito repellent for
use on your pet.
Dining Al Fresco
Nothing says summer like the smoky flavor of foods cooked out on
the grill. When you're grilling, use a meat thermometer to ensure
that you
cook meat and poultry thoroughly. 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. Whether you're cooking out in the
backyard or on a picnic, always keep cold foods cold and hot foods
hot. When you're finished eating, refrigerate leftovers promptly.
For downloadable tips, see Safe Food Handling: Seven Super Steps to Safe Food
In the Summer
on our
partner site, FightBAC.org .
Around the Yard
Now's the time to seal up, trap up, and clean up to prevent rodent infestation
(it might be a good idea to link directly to this more specific
page: www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent-rodents/index.htm). As you're
clearing out clutter, fill any gaps or holes inside and outside
your home. Eliminate or seal rodent food sources such as pet food,
bird feeders, and garbage cans. Elevate hay, woodpiles, and garbage
cans at least 1 foot off the ground, and trim grass and shrubbery
within 100 feet of your home.
In the yard, remove any items that may collect standing water,
such as buckets, old tires, and toys. Mosquitoes can breed in them
in just days. You can reduce the number of ticks around your home
by removing leaf litter and brush- and woodpiles around your house
and at the edge of your yard. By clearing trees and brush in your
yard, you can reduce the likelihood that deer, rodents, and ticks
will live there. Replace or repair torn window screens to keep bugs
out of the house.
Gardening is
a great outdoor activity for people of all ages. Stay safe and
healthy as you grab your tools and head outside. Wear gloves, use
safety gear when handling equipment and chemicals, protect yourself
from the sun, and use insect repellent. Also watch out for extreme
heat and know your limitations.
A sandbox is fun place for you and young children to play, but
know that a cat sees that sandbox as a litterbox. So, keep the
sandbox covered to protect young children from toxoplasmosis,
a parasite that people can get from contaminated cat feces
(stool).
Pollens and air pollutants can be triggers for allergic
reactions and asthma. Some
experiences include nasal and sinus allergies and hives. Asthma can
cause recurrent symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness,
shortness of breath and coughing. Stay healthy by properly taking
any prescription or over-the-counter allergy medicine and having
and following an asthma action plan. Wearing a protective nose and
mouth mask, or even sunglasses or protective eyewear, while doing
yard work could help to avoid the triggers that cause allergy and
asthma complications.
Fun in the Sun
Protect yourself and your family from recreational
water illnesses by doing your part to keep germs out of the
pool. Do not swim when you have diarrhea, don't swallow pool water,
take a shower before swimming, and wash your hands after using the
toilet or changing diapers. Keeping germs out of the pool means a
safer swim for everyone. Check the Healthy Swimming site's Swimmer
Protection page for "How To's," including how to test your pool
or spa at home using pool and spa test strips.
Play
it safe in the sun. Avoid being outdoors during the midday if
the sun is intense, use sunscreen with at least SPF 15, cover up
with clothing, wear a brimmed hat, and wear sunglasses that block
UVA and UVB rays. Be aware of the signs of heat
stress.
In the Great Outdoors
When you're out on the
trail, whether hiking, camping, or hunting, protect yourself from
mosquitoes and other bugs by using
insect repellent. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and long socks
when practical. Always check your clothes and body for ticks. If
you find any ticks, carefully remove them with tweezers. The ticks
that transmit Lyme disease are most active in May, June, and July,
so be especially careful during those months. However, you need to
look for ticks in all months of the year to protect yourself
against other tickborne diseases.
Just because a stream's water looks clear, it doesn't mean it's
safe to drink. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are
two parasites that you can't see, but they can make you very sick,
so follow healthy swimming tips. Always treat or filter water to make
it safe to drink. Bats are fun to watch as they flutter around
at dusk. In many camp situations, the mere presence or sighting of
bats is common and normal. Sometimes, bats may be infected with
rabies and may pose a risk for exposure to humans. Remind
children to never touch a bat. If you are bitten by a bat, wash the
affected area thoroughly and get medical advice immediately.
Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a
laboratory for rabies testing. Follow instructions for capturing
bats and reducing exposure while camping.
During Memorial Day and Independence Day, remember the safety tips
on firework use.
Enjoy the great outdoors. Have a safe and healthy spring and
summer!
More
Information
Safe food handling information from the Partnership for Food
Safety Education
Information about recreational water illnesses (RWIs)
- Choose
Your Cover
Protect your family from sun damage.
-
Play It Safe
Tips for kids for staying safe during a variety of activities
- Got
Water?
Keep hydrated during outdoor activities.
- Asthma
Information from the National Center for Environmental Health
(NCEH)
Content provided and maintained by the
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
