summer safety

Read on for tips to stay safe and healthy this summer!

prevent tick bites

Certain kinds of ticks can make you sick with diseases like Lyme disease and Powassan virus. Ticks are most commonly found in damp, grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, including your own backyard.

Follow these steps to help protect yourself from tick bites:

  • Use tick repellents with an EPA-registered active ingredient. Always follow directions on the label.
  • Check yourself for ticks once a day. If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly using fine tweezers or a tick removal tool.
  • When possible, wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into socks. This will help keep ticks away from your skin and make it easier to spot 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 are exposed to ticks may bring ticks back inside. Talk to your veterinarian about the best ways to protect your animals from ticks and tick-borne disease.

Prevent mosquito bites

There were 4 human cases of the mosquito-borne disease Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and 18 of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Massachusetts last year. The risk for human infection of EEE or WNV starts to increase in mid- to late summer.

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

To prepare for mosquito season:

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

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

sun and heat protection

Climate change is increasing the number, as well as the intensity, of extreme heat events in Massachusetts. High temperatures and increased sun exposure mean that additional precautions should be taken when spending time outside to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

  • Seek shade and take breaks from the sun throughout the day. Use air conditioning if available - otherwise, use fans, take cool showers, or visit public cooling centers.
  • 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 with water.
  • Wear sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF of at least 30) 15-20 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours. Wear protective clothing to avoid sunburn.
  • When possible, limit outdoor activities during the hottest hours (10 AM - 4 PM), seek shade and wear light, breathable clothing.
  • 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 Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection MassAir page.

To stay informed with real-time heat forecasts and community resources to help you plan, prepare, and respond to unhealthy heat in Massachustts, visit the Unhealthy Heat Forecast website.

Additional tips on sun and heat protection can be found on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Extreme Heat and Your Health website or the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) website.

Water and Pool Safety

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

  • Only swim at or within designated swimming areas. Swimming outside of the designated swimming areas, or at waterfronts where swimming is prohibited, 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 when there is lightning.
  • Do not swim beyond your skillset.
  • For those who cannot swim, keep to shallow areas or use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Massachusetts Department in Public Health, in cooperation with the USCG, has created a fit test video that can assist with proper fit testing of life jackets: https://youtu.be/1I3VZf-NqPc
  • Do not use toys such as "water wings" or "noodles" in place of life jackets. These are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
  • Enroll children in swimming lessons. Each year, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provides free swimming lessons to children at select pools across the state in July and August through the Learn to Swim program. DCR will open registration for its Learn to Swim program on June 14, 2025.

In public swimming areas:

  • If caught up 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 beaches. The New Bedford Health Department and Massachusetts DPH collect beach water quality data and notifies the public about bacteria levels to minimize swimming-associated illness and injury.

Consider becoming a lifeguard. DCR is recruiting lifeguards to work at agency-managed inland and coastal beaches, as well as swimming pools. For more information, visit DCR's lifeguarding website.