To help you and your family enjoy a safe summer while outdoors, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health offers these suggestions:
- Biking
- Dogs
- Insects
- Pool Safety
Biking and Other Wheeled Sports
Biking and Other Wheels Sports PDF download
Safekids.org: Tips on preventing injuries: at home, at play, and on the way
nhtsa.org: Kids and Bicycle Safety
Bicyclesafe.com: How to Avoid Being Hit by Cars
Dog Bite Prevention
Before you bring a dog into your household
Dog Bite Prevention
- 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and one in five dog bites results in injuries that require medical attention.
- There are ways to make dog bites less likely and to help prevent children from being bitten by dogs:
- Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn what breeds of dogs are the best fit for your household
- Dogs with histories of aggression are not suitable for households with children
- Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog
- If a child seems frightened by dogs, wait before bringing a dog into your household
- Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it
- Use caution when bringing a dog into a household with an infant or toddler
- If you decide to bring a dog into your household
- Spay/neuter your dog as this often reduces aggressive tendencies
- Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog
- Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (wrestling, pulling a sock with its mouth, etc.)
- Properly socialize and train any dog entering your household
- Teach the dog submissive behaviors such as rolling over to expose the abdomen and giving up food without growling
- Immediately seek professional advice from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors
- Insect Repellent
- Mosquitos
- Ticks
Insect Repellent
Check the label for one of the following active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, IR 3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus
Use products with 30 percent or less of these ingredients on kids
Use it whenever you and your children are outdoors
Put a few bottles or packets of repellent anywhere you might need them: in the car, by the door, in your bag
Any single bug bite has the potential to bring illness, so it’s worth taking a moment to think about prevention
Mosquitos
Following a warm and wet spring, mosquitoes are very active. Protect yourself from bites and possible disease infection by following these tips:
Use insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil
Apply repellents 15 to 20 minutes before going outdoors and routinely reapply them as necessary
Try to limit or avoid outdoor activities between dusk to dawn as mosquitos are active and biting during that period
Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, shoes and socks whenever possible
To eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites near your home:
Remove all unused tires and other containers that may hold water, such as buckets, tin cans and unused flower pots.
Empty bird baths and refill on a regular basis
Eliminate any areas of standing water on your property
Make sure all roof gutters are clean and draining properly
Clean and chlorinate all pools and outdoor hot tubs
Drain any standing water on pool covers
Pools and hot tubs should be kept well covered and preferably empty when not in use
Tick Safe Zone
Ticks can ride in on parents, kids, and even the family pet
Check your gear and pets as soon as you get inside, even if your outdoor adventures were only in the backyard
Parents should check for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and especially in the hair
If you find a tick, remove it using fine-tipped tweezers as soon as you notice it
If a tick is attached to your skin for less than 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is extremely small
Watch for signs or symptoms of Lyme disease such as rash or fever, and see a doctor if necessary
Bathing when you get inside can also help you find ticks and remove them
Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill any remaining ticks
For more information, please visit:
Call CDC Info at 1-800-CDC-INFO
Pool Safety
Leading Causes of Summer Injury – Drowning
Backyard Safety Pamphlet