Precautions to keep summer fun and enjoyable

The Montana Department of Health and Human Services recently released some tips and facts to keep Montanans healthy this summer.

Prevention tips for dealing with mosquitoes are as follows.

Wear protective clothing and use insect repellent. CDC recommends use of products containing DEET for adults and children over the age of 2.

Limit outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

For insect bites and stings:

Apply insect repellent – according to directions – before going into woods or area you may contact insects.

Wear light-colored, long sleeved, long-legged clothing.

Do not wear perfumed lotion or scented hair products.

Avoid flowering plants.

Do not put your picnic out until you are ready to eat.

If you have severe allergic reactions to insect bites, have someone else mow lawns or trim hedges.

For dealing with snakes:

Avoid places where snakes may live.

Watch where you step or sit.

When moving through tall grass and weeds, poke the ground in front of you with a long stick to scare snakes away.

Shine a flashlight on your path when walking at night.

Never handle a snake.

Drowning:

Never leave children alone around water.

Supervise children carefully – put cell phones away. Don’t drink in excess.

Know how to swim and teach children to swim.

Take a safe boating course and wear a life jacket.

Protection from ultraviolet light:

Prevention step: Be A.W.A.R.E.

AVOID unprotected exposure to sunlight, seek shade, and never tan indoors.

WEAR sun protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses year-round.

APPLY broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sunburn protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.

ROUTINELY examine your whole body for changes in your skin and report concerns to a health care provider.

This article is sponsored by the Phillips County Hospital.