Heat Safety
During the hot and humid days of summer, it is wise to take precautions to stay safe in the heat. 
- NEVER leave children or pets unattended in a parked car or other hot environment.
- If you must be out in the heat, wear light-colored, light-weight, loose-fitting clothing, a hat and sunscreen.
- Stay hydrated. Drink water and caffeine-free liquids. Alcoholic beverages do not keep you hydrated.
- Stay out of the sun during the hours of 10:00a.m. and 3:00p.m.
- Take frequent rest breaks in air conditioned or shaded environments.
- Check on elderly friends, family and neighbors. Be aware of the symptoms of heat related illness: extreme weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, headache, possible vomiting or fainting, dry red skin.
- Citizens should call 911 if they encounter a heat related emergency.
Resources:
Have Fun in the Sun and Stay Safe and Healthy
Summer is here! Longer, warmer days and lots of sun means more time outdoors. We want to make sure that you have fun and stay safe and healthy while doing it!
- Water - In a pool or on a beach, make sure to have fun safely. Never swim alone, keep an eye on young children, use swim vests at the beach or for weaker swimmers in pools, don't swallow pool or beach water. Want to know more? Visit Maryland's Healthy and Safe Swimming page.
- To avoid infections that may come from recreation water (swimming pools, kiddie pools, water playgrounds) keep the following in mind: Remember to visit the CDCs Healthy Swimming page.
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Keep the pee, poop, sweat, and dirt out of the water!
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Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea.
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Shower before you get in the water.
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Don’t swallow the water.
- Sun - While out in the sun, remember your sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. Cover up! More information: CDC's Sun Safety page.
- Food - Having a barbeque or picnic? Keep food cold until ready to cook, serve small portions and leave the rest in the cooler, discard any perishable food left out for more than 2 hours. Need more information? Go to the Foodsafety.gov Summer and Vacations page.
- Ticks and Mosquitoes - Don't let these guys ruin your outdoor time. Protect yourself and your family.
- Ticks - Use insect repellant containing DEET, avoid areas with high grass and leaf litter, check yourself for ticks after being outdoors (and your pets too). Get more information on the CDCs Tick page.
- Mosquitoes - Use insect repellant with DEET, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, keep mosquitos outside by using window and door screens. Visit the CDC Stop Mosquitoes webpage.
Children in Vehicles
Did You Know?
- A child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s body.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned that on a 60° F day, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach a dangerous 110° F over the course of several hours.
- Heatstroke deaths have been recorded in every month of the year in nearly all 50 states
Prevent Heatstroke in Cars
- Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, even when it's not hot outside, not even for a minute. Always lock your doors and trunks – even in your driveway. And keep your keys and key fobs out of the reach of kids.
- Create reminders. Place something you'll need at your next stop – like a briefcase or cell phone – next to the child safety seat. It may seem simple, but can be a helpful reminder on a chaotic day.
- Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, take action. Call 911. Emergency personnel are trained to respond to these situations.
Resources:
Measles Information & FAQs
Measles is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing. Measles starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body.
For more information, fact sheets and resources about Measles go to our Health Alerts and Recalls page.
Breaking the Cycle of Youth Suicide in Howard County
Youth Suicide Prevention Program Uses Multiple Tactics to Help Save Lives
Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24 in 2017. In Howard County, suicide was the leading cause of death for youth ages 15-19 between 2014-2016. According to the Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 1 in 6 high s
chool students and 1 in 5 middle school students have “seriously considered attempting suicide”.
An evidence-based plan, accompanied by an “It’s OK to Ask” outreach campaign, encourages both youth and adults to talk openly about suicide and suicide prevention.
Health Department staff will be working in the community to provide specialized presentations and training for those who would like to bring Youth Suicide Prevention Program components to their organizations and groups.
“It’s OK to Ask” campaign materials, additional information, resources and training are available at teenhealthmatters.org, or by contacting Kayla Blasher, Health Department Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator at 410-313-6240.
If you, or someone you know is in crisis, contact:
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center 24/7 at 410-531-6677 or
- text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
Learn suicide warning signs and get tips about how to start a conversation by visiting teenhealthmatters.org
The Doctor Is In - Episode Four - Population Health: The What and The How
The fourth episode of the Health Department podcast, The Doctor Is In is now available on Howard Community College’s Dragon Digital Radio. Population Health aims to improve the health of an entire group of people by addressing the social determinants of health. More simply, this broad topic centers on improving the health outcomes of families and communities by encouraging healthy lifestyles and ensuring that everyone has the same opportunities to live a healthy life. You can hear all of the episodes of The Doctor Is In at: https://dragondigitalradio.podbean.com/category/the-doctor-is-in
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The Bonavitacola Family shares their experience with opioid overdose and how it can happen in any family.