Quick Guides

Bike Safety

With warmer weather comes the perfect opportunity to hop on a bike and enjoy an outdoor adventure. However, it’s important to keep bike safety in mind to prevent accidents and injuries. 

• Wear a properly fitted helmet to protect your head in case of a fall or collision.
• Check your bike’s brakes, tires and gear for proper functioning before heading out. 
• Be visible with bright or reflective clothing, use light reflectors on your bike.
• Watch for hazards such as potholes, pavements and surroundings, that includes other cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles.
• Follow traffic laws including stopping at stop signs and red lights, turns and riding with traffic.

Wound Care

Cuts and other injuries breaking the skin – How to treat at home and when to get help

Almost all bleeding can be stopped by applying 5-10 minutes of uninterrupted direct pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. 

• Once bleeding stops gently wash with soap and water for 5 minutes to decrease the chance of infection and dirt remaining trapped in the wound.
• Apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment and cover with a clean dry bandage.
• Bite wounds that break the skin (such as dog or human bites) usually require oral antibiotics and should be evaluated, even if minor.

When stitches or other closing may be needed

• Cuts/wounds of any size that go all the way through the skin exposing dark red muscle or yellow fat tissue.
• A gaping cut/wound larger than ½ inch long (measure with a ruler if needed), no matter how deep.
• Cuts that are deep, gaping, or in cosmetically sensitive areas should be evaluated to determine if stitches are needed.

Ticks and Lyme Disease

What to Know:

Lyme Disease is caused by Deer Tick bites, most commonly located in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic or Upper Mid-West states.  Ticks are active year-round but often increase activity in Spring and Summer.

• Deer Ticks are small (the size of a poppy seed). 
• If you live in a high Lyme or deer tick state, check yourself and children for ticks when coming inside.
• If you see an embedded tick remove it with tweezers.
• Wear long pants when hiking in high tick areas such as wooded or brushy areas.
• Use bug repellent to shoes, socks, and exposed skin in high-risk areas or activities.
• DEET containing repellants are recommended as an effective repellent for use on the skin.
• Use 10% DEET for children 2months to 2 years old and 30% DEET in children 2 and above.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the use of DEET under 2 months of age.