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July 3, 2024

Dog Days of Summer


If you’re anything like us, you have a long summer bucket list that you're just starting to check off – hikes, bike rides, swimming holes to visit and more. It’s hard to beat summer in Vermont, but you can beat the heat! Make sure to have some tips and tricks up your (long) sleeves (for sun and bite protection) so you can stay healthy by being prepared! 


Follow us on social media @HealthVermont and visit our website, HealthVermont.gov, for more useful information.

Group of people happily drinking outside

Raise Your Glass, Not Your Risk



There are only so many sunny days here in Vermont, so it’s important to enjoy them in good taste! If you are day drinking this summer, remember that alcohol can affect your body differently in the heat.


Stay safe by following these tips: 

 

Stay Hydrated: Both drinking alcohol and being out in the sun are dehydrating, so it’s important to slug extra H2O! 


Pre-Drink Meal: Eating before drinking slows the absorption of booze. Foods that are high in protein are the best for this.


Know Your Limits: While drinking in the evening usually has a “natural” end, day drinking leaves it open-ended. So, decide in advance how much you plan to drink and stick to it.


Learn more about how alcohol affects your body.

Pop Quiz

* Scroll down for the answer.

In Vermont, cases of Lyme disease are reported every month of the year, but which month has the most reports?



A. June

B. July

C. August


Hint: Look at the tick bite illnesses data on our website.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Sunscreen


Love it or hate it, the smell of sunscreen means that summer is here.

Most of us would agree that sunburns are one of the WORST parts of summer – and even though they are preventable, 44% of adults and 76% of high school students in Vermont had a sunburn in the last year. 


Don’t be a 2024 sunburn statistic, take steps towards sun protection this summer! FREE sunscreen dispensers can be found in many Vermont State and local parks. Find one near you!

This video shows a young man protecting himself from the sun's harmful UV rays.
Person holding a modern hearing aid in the palm of their hand.

Hear, Hear for Good Hearing



Do you feel like your hearing isn't as sharp as it used to be? Totally normal! But it's important to bring it up with your provider. Trouble hearing can make us less social and more isolated, which can increase the chances of memory issues. 


But there’s good news: hearing aids (for those who need them) can help!  

 

Unsure if your insurance covers them? Look into your plan's vision and hearing benefits. Medicare recently added hearing aid coverage and in Vermont, Medicaid provides support for hearing aids and related services. 


Taking steps today to protect your vision and hearing health can protect your future brain health! 

 

Learn more here.

Child scratching their arm with text that reads "Do you know the symptoms of tick bite illness? fever, rash, join pain."

Kick Ticks to the Curb


Ticks may be hard to see but the symptoms of tick bite illnesses, like Lyme, are not. Symptoms may include rash, fever, chills, headache, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue.


Call your health care provider if you develop any of these symptoms after a tick bite or spending time where ticks are commonly found. Most people who begin treatment early on fully recover.


Learn more here.

Older man drinking from a reusable water bottle outside in the summer.

Hydration Is HOT This Summer


Did you know symptoms of heat exhaustion include nausea, muscle cramps, dizziness, and feeling cool to the touch?


Practice heat safety this summer with these hot-weather tips: 


☀ Stay hydrated! Drink extra water and bring a water bottle with you when spending time outside. 


☀ Listen to your body – take it easy when temperatures rise, limit outdoor work and exercise to cooler parts of the day and stop what you’re doing if you feel weak or faint. 


☀ Be informed by following local weather, signing up for weather alerts at VT-Alert and checking Health Department social media (Instagram and Facebook) for advisories. 



☀ Check on your neighbors and loved ones, especially if they are older or have chronic health conditions. 


☀ Stay cool! Take a break in an air-conditioned space – use the Health Department’s Cooling Sites Map to find spots near you. 


Learn the symptoms of heat illnesses and find more tips on our website.

Homeowner Drinking Water Test Package

Testing 1,2,3


Do you have a private well or spring?


Most drinking water contaminants can’t be
seen, smelled, tasted, or felt and they definitely can't be heard, so you need to let the Vermont Homeowner Testing Package be your sixth sense to find out if your water is safe to drink!


Order your test kit today from our new webstore! 

* Option B, July is the correct answer.

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