Summer Safety Awareness: Heat-Related Illnesses · Fireworks · Swimming · Boating · Bicycling · Outdoor Cooking · Sunscreens · KidsAndCars.org
Source: New Jersey Poison Control Center (njPIES.org)
While social distancing is a necessary strategy in stopping the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, spending more time at home increases the opportunity for serious poisoning injuries.
• Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling raw food. Cooked foods should not be placed on plates or in containers that previously held raw meats without washing them with soap and water first. Marinate food in the refrigerator and not on the counter.
If you have any kind of respiratory illness or infection, including coronavirus, do not prepare or serve food to others.
• Apply/reapply broad-spectrum sunscreen that is water-resistant, SPF 30 or higher, and contains zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients. Medications you care taking can greatly increase the risk for heat-related illness and/or severe sunburn even when using sunscreen.
• Gas generators, typically used after power outages, should be placed 20 feet away from your home and your neighbors.
• Exhaust fumes from idling boats can be dangerous to swimmers and others in the area. Do not idle boats, and always swim and play away from rear swim decks or water platforms where engines usually vent.
• Do not pick or eat mushrooms or growing in the wild, not even those in your own yard.
• If children and pets are present, limit their access to cigarette/cigar butts, alcohol, liquid nicotine/vaping devices, and products containing THC.
• Be on the lookout for poison ivy, oak, and sumac when spending time outdoors. Do not scratch the rash they can cause — dirt from your nails and hands can cause more infection.
• When using powdered chlorine to treat a swimming pool, avoid shaking the container to minimize dust, fumes and splashes. Never mix chlorine with ammonia, an acid, or other cleaning solutions.
New Jersey Poison Control services are free, confidential, and available 24/7. Call 1-800-222-1222; text 973-339-0702; or chat online. Our Web site is at njPIES.org.