Happy mid-summer!

I am writing my letter to you in late July, so some of the facts I will provide throughout the letter may have been updated. I will update any new information on the town website under the Public Health Nurse’s page

When you read this letter, summer will truly be in full swing. Please be aware of our little ones out there. We have campers who use some of the main roads briefly to get from one place to another. Give then a wide birth! Watch out also when you see little ones on their bicycle. Those little legs can only go so fast, and though Webbles may not fall down “wittles” ones do! Always slow down and be prepared to stop. You won’t get where you’re going any faster with a child beneath your tires! The other thing to be alert to is a ball rolling onto the road…..there is, very often, a child running after it.

Watch out for the big people on bicycles, or on foot, too. Our country roads are curvy, hilly and narrow in places. Walkers, runners and cyclists can be around any corner. Recently I was running myself. I was wearing bright colored clothing, my iridescent vest and on a fairly straight length of road. But despite all my efforts to be safe, a driver using excessive speed and very obviously texting and driving almost hit me. If the person driving in the other direction had not been so conscientious, this irresponsible driver would have been in a head on collision when he finally swerved to avoid me. Use sense drivers! Remember, your vehicle is a lethal weapon! And walkers and runners, be sure to be visible to traffic and always walk or run facing the traffic. The same for our cyclist, wear bright colors and be sure your bicycle is also lit up, but you need to ride with the traffic. If you are biking with the family, be sure there is an adult at the back of the pack to watch little ones!

I have been posting weekly updates on the Heat Index and Air Quality Index for Rehoboth on the town website. As I write, we seem to be enjoying a break from the oppressive heat and humidity of mid-July, but be prepared, we know our New England weather will change and repeat itself! So be cautious: sunscreen, a hat, extra hydration, (you know those bottles of water we all seem to carry around? Fill them and drink the water!) Be aware of the young and old, who don’t always regulate their body temperatures well. For children at camp, but sure they have sunscreen they are able to apply themselves and EXTRA FLUIDS. Avoid being outside during peak temperature hours. If you do not have air-conditioning, consider opening your windows late in the evening or before you go to bed, and close them as soon as you get up. You’ll let the cool night air in, and keep it in during the day by doing this. Keep curtains closed during the day and run fans to circulate air. Be sure to drink plenty of water, as a habit, during the day. If you wait to feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. However, use caution if your doctor has ordered a fluid restriction for health reasons.

We continue to see a significant number of Lyme disease cases in Rehoboth (16 cases so far for July). Please continue to use good sense and cover up when you are out of doors: long pants tucked into your socks, light colored clothing so you can see the little devils. It is also a good idea to do a body check and shower when you come inside from grassy, wooded areas, particularly long grass, or if you are preparing your wood pile for the fall and winter months. Ticks love these areas too! If you are bitten by a tick and can be certain to pull the entire tick out, you can do this. But monitor the area for any redness, in particular a red ring-shaped swollen area. This is called a bullseye and is indicative of a tickborne infection. Contact your PCP as soon as you see such signs for further care instructions.

I receive weekly reports on EEE and WNV. There are reports of positive findings in mosquitos for both diseases in multiple towns including our neighbors including Seekonk and Attleboro. At the time of this writing there are no human cases and we are still considered low-risk. However, use good sense and caution. Avoid outdoor activities at dawn and at dusk, when mosquitos are out for blood! If you must be out, wear long pant and long sleeves and an approved mosquito repellant. Be sure to empty any standing water from containers around your yard, this will minimize the breeding ground for mosquitos.

On July 19th the CDC reported a listeria outbreak in 12 states, one of which is Massachusetts. This is typically a food borne disease. There are 28 cases across the 12 states, with 2 reported deaths. The notification from the state acknowledges that more than likely, not all cases have been reported to the various states, because some people do not get very sick and presume, they have a little belly bug. The outbreak has been linked to deli meat, specifically liverwurst, ham and turkey. At the time of this writing, there has not been an identified manufacturer, or a recall by the CDC. (You’ll find more information on the town web site under the Public Health Nurse’s page)

Which brings me to summer safety for your food! Be cognizant as you host and attend summer cookouts. Be sure to keep food and condiments indoors or in ice filled coolers if outdoors. Make sure all meats are thoroughly cooked, particularly chicken. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming and when in doubt, throw it out. And of course, always wash your hands before preparing food and after handling raw meat, chicken or fish.

Also, as cookout season ramps up, be extra cautious when using your outdoor grill when small children are around. Be sure to review your rules regarding the grill’s use with children who might get near the grill and alert children when the grill is lit.

This gives me a great segue to fire safety in and around your home. Thing to consider and plan for include asking yourself and your family: Are your smoke detectors in working order? When were the batteries changed last? Where are your fire extinguishers and do you know how to use them? Do you know what PASS and RACE stand for? Where is your meeting spot outside your home if you have to evacuate your home. Have you discussed with your children to never re-entering your house if it’s on fire? Not even for a pet or a toy! Do children in your home have access to a phone to dial 911? In this time of locked cellphones, we need to think about that! If you don’t have a fire plan, make one and practice it! And don’t forget to talk to your little one about how the Fireman dresses. If the fireman has to enter your home or even when they are outside your home during a fire, they can look very scary to a child.

Our usual health screenings continue to run weekly: The Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose Screening clinics run every Monday and Wednesdays from 12noon to 130pm at the Senior Center here at 27 Francis Farm Rd.

The podiatry clinic continues to run every other month. Dr McLaughlin will visit again on September 5th from 9a-1230P. The clinic is held at the Nurses Office in the White Farmhouse on Francis Farm.

We are also running the bereavement support group every Wednesday from 930a-1030a. This is also at the Nurses Office on Francis Farm. All are welcome, no matter when your loss occurred. Though grief has a somewhat predictable process, it does not have a timeline, or an end date. Those who have come to the group have taught me so much, including what I call grief’s unpredictability. Just give me a quick call, if you’d like to come, so I have enough seats: 508-962-4558

And a very brief note on my last item for this letter, though we are seeing a bump up in case of COVID, the recommendations now are the same as for other respiratory illness: stay home if you are sick. Return to work only when your symptoms are improving and when you have been fever-free (if you develop a fever) for greater than 24 hours.

And so, as I sign off, I wish you an enjoyable rest of the summer. Be kind, be careful, be safe!

Respectfully,
Geri Hamel RN MSN, Public Health Nurse