Summer Safety Tips

Ticks are common in Vermont and can spread Lyme and other diseases. They live in wooded, grassy, and brushy areas.

• Use bug spray and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
• Check yourself, children, and pets for ticks after spending time outside.
• Shower soon after being outdoors to help wash off unattached ticks.

Get more tick bite prevention tips

Bug spray works against mosquitoes, too! Mosquitoes may also be carrying viruses that can spread disease.

Take steps to prevent mosquito bites

Heat waves are becoming more common and severe in Vermont, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These problems can become dangerous quickly, especially for older adults, young children, outdoor workers, and people without access to air conditioning.

• Drink extra water, and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks.
• Limit strenuous outdoor activities.
• Take breaks in the shade or cool indoor locations.
• Check in on neighbors or loved ones, especially if they are older, have chronic health conditions, or don't have air conditioning.

Find more tips on how to stay safe in the heat

Wildfire smoke is becoming a more common part of Vermont summers. Poor air quality from wildfires or other pollution can irritate the lungs and worsen breathing conditions like asthma. It can be especially dangerous for those who are highly affected by air pollution, like people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children.

• Stay informed by signing up for air quality alerts or checking the air quality forecast.
• Know your health risk and pay attention to your symptoms.
• Limit or modify your outdoor activities if you are having symptoms.
• Keep your indoor air clean.

Find out more tips on how to stay safe and how to sign up for alerts

Although Vermont has fewer sunny days than most states, we have the third highest rate of skin cancer in the country. It's important to protect yourself outside, even on cloudy days, since the clouds don’t block the sun’s harmful rays.

• Apply a thick layer of sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every two hours.
• Reapply sunscreen after swimming or sweating.
• Seek shade, especially during the middle of the day when the sun is strongest.
• Wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and clothing that covers your skin when possible.
• Avoid tanning outside or indoors.

Learn more about reducing your risk of skin cancer (CDC)

Vermont’s swimming holes, lakes, and rivers are popular spots to cool off in summer. But it’s important to be aware of changing water conditions, cold water, and harmful algae blooms before diving in.

• Keep a close eye on children around water. Slips, falls and drowning can happen in a matter of seconds.
• Avoid swallowing water and stay out of the water when sick with diarrhea.
• Check for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) before swimming.

Find swimming lessons near you at American Red Cross
Learn more about swimming hole and water safety

Poisonous plants like poison ivy, giant hogweed, and wild parsnip are common in summer and can cause painful rashes, burns, or other skin reactions. Other common plants can be toxic to people and pets if eaten. It's important to know how to identify poisonous plants and how to avoid them.

Find information on poisonous plants in Vermont

Summer cookouts, picnics, and camping trips can increase the risk of food poisoning, when food is left out for too long. This is because warmer weather allows bacteria to grow quickly in food.

• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
• Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces often.
• Cook foods to safe temperatures.
• Refrigerate leftovers within two hours or one hour, if food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F, such as in a hot car.

Learn more about food safety (CDC)

Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the brain and nervous system. It spreads through bites or saliva from infected animals. In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats.

• Call the Vermont Rabies Hotline (1-800-4-RABIES) if you see a sick or strangely behaving animal, or wake up to a bat in your sleeping area.
• Do not touch or handle wild or stray animals, including young mammals.
• Make sure pets are up to date on rabies vaccination. 
• Keep pets indoors at night and supervise them when outside.

Learn more about how to prevent rabies

Summer camps and travel can increase exposure to contagious diseases, making it important to stay up to date on recommended vaccines before summer activities. Check with your healthcare provider to make sure you and your family are up to date.

Learn more about recommended vaccines

For any infectious disease-related concerns and reporting, contact the Health Department Infectious Disease Program at 802-863-7240 (option 2).

Diseases like measles, pertussis (whooping cough), and norovirus can spread quickly in camp settings. Swift action helps prevent further spread of diseases. When you reach out with an infectious disease concern or case, public health staff will work with your camp to assess risk and provide guidance.

What you can do:

• Have a plan in place before camp begins. This plan should outline how you will identify and separate anyone who is sick, communicate with families and staff, and coordinate with the Health Department
• Immediately isolate anyone who develops a fever and a rash and notify their health care provider and the Health Department.  
• Confirm camp health care providers report suspected or confirmed reportable diseases, as required.  
• In addition to reporting individually reportable conditions, notify the Health Department if an unusual number of people develop vomiting, diarrhea, or flu-like illness (fever, cough, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, chills). 

Cases of vaccine-preventable diseases are increasing nationally. In Vermont, we’ve responded to outbreaks of hepatitis A and whooping cough in camp settings in recent years.

Ensuring high vaccination coverage for staff and campers helps provide protection and reduces the risk of disruptions to camp operations. The Vermont Department of Health recommends that all campers and staff are up to date on routine immunizations, including measles (MMR), pertussis (DTaP/Tdap), and varicella (chickenpox).  

What you can do:

• Review staff and camper immunization records before the season begins.
• Encourage families and staff to check with their health care provider if they are not up to date.

You can help prevent other summer health risks by promoting everyday prevention strategies:

• Follow safe food handling practices, such as proper handwashing, keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, cooking foods to safe temperatures, and refrigerating leftovers within two hours, or one hour if food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F.
• Support safe swimming practices and stay aware of water conditions.
• Check for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) before water activities.  
• Promote tick bite and mosquito bite prevention, including daily tick checks.  
• Remind campers and staff to avoid contact with wild animals to prevent possible rabies exposures.
• Monitor weather conditions, including extreme heat and poor air quality, and adjust activities as needed.