BOARD OF HEALTH - Rita McConville, Helen Whipple, Richard Whiting

A "Flu" handout provided by MA Public Health and your local board of
health is available in the town hall.

Adequate and frequent hand-washing, using disposable tissues, and
covering coughs (with your elbow - not your hand) are the best
precautions you can take to avoid the flu.  When flu shots are offered,
take advantage of them.

A booklet entitled "Use of potassium iodide during a radiological
emergency" is available in the BOH office. Stop in, it's quick reading!

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in the
United States.  The environment in Warwick is a prime site for the
black-legged tick (commonly known as deer ticks).  Lyme disease is
passed to humans by the bite of this tick.  Anyone working in the
outdoors in construction, landscaping, forestry, brush clearing and land
surveying are at risk of Lyme disease.  Take the following steps to
protect yourself from tick bites:

* Wear a hat and light-colored clothing, including long-sleeved shirts
and long pants tucked into your boots or socks.

* Use insect repellants that provide protection for the amount of time
you will be outdoors.  Use repellants containing 20%-30% DEET on your
skin or clothing

* Check your skin and clothes for ticks when you return inside.  The
immature form of these ticks is small and very hard to see.  Remember to
check your hair, underarms and groin for ticks.

* Immediately remove ticks from your body using fine-tipped tweezers.

* Clean the area with soap and water

* Removing ticks within 24 hours reduces your risk of being infected

* Wash and dry work clothes in a hot dryer to kill any ticks that might
be present

To learn more about Lyme disease and its symptoms go to the CDC website.
www.cdc.gov