Enjoy Vermont Days At State Parks - Getting Outside is Good for You!

The Outdoors is good for you, so get out there! Numerous studies have shown that getting outside is good for you, and The Health Department encourages Vermonters to take advantage of free entry into State Park day areas, free fishing, and free entry into historic sites and museums during the annual Vermont Days celebration this weekend (vermontdays.com).

Outdoor activity helps reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity and other health problems that are becoming more common in our sedentary society. Spending time in nature also has proven to be beneficial to your mental health, increasing attention span and sociability in both kids and adults.

While the benefits of spending time outside far outweigh the hazards, here are a few tips to keep in mind while enjoying the outdoors this summer:

Use insect repellent

Avoid mosquito bites to prevent West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis virus, and avoid tick bites to prevent Lyme disease.

Ticks have been on the rise in recent years. The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites. Perform daily tick checks and remove ticks promptly. It can take 36 hours for the tick to transmit Lyme disease so prompt removal can prevent disease.

Insect repellent is one of the precautions recommended for anyone who spends time outdoors during the summer. Most repellents contain DEET, which is safe and effective to use, even on children. Use an EPA-registered repellent and read the label carefully.

Learn how to identify Blue Green Algae:

Public awareness about the dangers of algae also continues to grow. The Health Department, in collaboration with partner agencies and the University of Vermont, developed a comprehensive surveillance and monitoring system for algae blooms in 1999. Report blooms by calling the Health Department by calling 1-800-439-8550 (VT only). You can see photographs of blue green algae at healthvermont.gov.

No human cases of illness related to blue-green algae have been documented in Vermont, but it can be seriously harmful to dogs.

Blue-green algae blooms tend to happen late in the summer when lake temperatures are at their peak. While not a widespread phenomenon in Vermont, certain places, like shallow bays can be more susceptible to the algae.

Some kinds of blue-green algae produce dangerous toxins and exposure can result in skin irritation or allergic reactions. Drinking water that contains toxins produced by algae can result in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Children are considered to be at higher risk because they are more likely to accidentally drink the water.

For full information and resources about summer precautions recommended by the Health Department go to healthvermont.gov and choose Blue-Green Algae.

Follow us on Twitter and join us on Facebook for health information, news and alerts.