Summer Safety tips

Sun and Heat Safety

Practicing good sun and heat safety habits help prevent health problems that come from prolonged exposure to UV radiation and excessive heat.

  • Wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) and reapply every two hours.
  • Wear sunglasses outside to protect your eyes.
  • Wear protective clothing to avoid sunburn.
  • 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 by water.
  • Seek shade and take breaks from the sun throughout the day.
  • On very hot days, use air conditioning if possible, otherwise, use fans, take cool showers, or visit public cooling centers.
  • Check for heat-related symptoms, including unusually heavy sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, and more.
  • Avoid outdoor activity when the air quality is low. An air quality monitoring map is available on the MassAir webpage.

Starting on May 1st, 2026, use the Unhealthy Heat Forecast website to stay informed with real-time heat forecasts and resources to help you plan, prepare, and respond to unhealthy heat in Massachusetts.

Additional tips for sun and heat protection can be found on the CDC's Extreme Heat and Your Health website.

Prevent Tick Bites

Certain kinds of ticks can make you sick with Lyme disease and other illnesses. Ticks are commonly found in damp, grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, including your own backyard and they are active year-round.

  • Check yourselves and your children for ticks once a day. If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly using fine tweezers or a tick removal tool.
  • Use tick repellents with an EPA-registered active ingredient. Always follow directions on the label.
  • When possible, wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into socks. This will help keep ticks away from the skin and make it easier to see ticks on your clothing.
  • After spending time outside, putting your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 20 minutes can help kill ticks.
  • 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 tickborne disease.

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

Prevent Mosquito Bites

Every year, Massachusetts sees several cases of the serious diseases that come from mosquitoes including Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV). The risk for human infection of EEE or WNV starts to increase in mid- to late summer.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health posts updates about local risk throughout the season on the Massachusetts Arbovirus Update page.

Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn. To prepare for mosquito season:

  • Use a mosquito repellant with an EPA-registered ingredient according to the directions on the label.
  • Drain standing water in and around your house or yard to prevent mosquito breeding.
  • Repair windows and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to reduce skin exposure when possible.

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

Water and Pool Safety

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

  • Only swim at or within designated swimming areas. Swimming outside of these areas, or at waterfronts where swimming is not allowed, can be dangerous.
  • Keep a close eye on children near the water. Parents and other guardians serve as the first and primary line of safety for their children.
  • Use the buddy system and always tell someone where you are going.
  • 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 where there is lightning.
  • Do not swim beyond your skillset.
  • For those who can't swim, stay in shallow areas or use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. This video can help you with proper fit testing of life jackets.
  • Do not use toys such as "water wings" or "noodles" in place of life jackets. These are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
  • If possible, enroll children in swimming lessons.

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, check the water and notify lifeguards and park staff immediately.
  • Look for signage at the beaches. The New Bedford Health Department collects beach water samples weekly during the summer at public beaches in the south coast and will notify the public about bacteria levels to minimize swimming-associated illness and injury.