The Cayuga County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program has cited that Cayuga County children have more of a tendency to become overweight. With the latest local statistics our local WIC program applied for a grant from the NYS Division of Nutrition and received an award to provide 400 Healthy Lifestyle Backpacks to children and families who participate in the WIC program.

In an effort to increase physical activity among children and families, the WIC program collaborated with the Cayuga County Eat Well Play Hard (EWPH) program and donated items to be placed in the backpacks. The backpacks included educational material along with jump ropes, juggling scarves, bean bags, sidewalk chalk, a portion plate, sand pail and bucket and other items to be used outdoors.

Providing backpacks to 400 children and families allows physical activity to be built into their daily lives. With increased physical activity in their daily lives these children and families decrease their risks for high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Over the next three months, the WIC program will be distributing the 400 Healthy Lifestyle Backpacks to children and families in the community. Children and families that are given the backpacks and participate in the program can be entered into a raffle drawing to win a bicycle and helmet at Christmas time.

Now is a great time to put the contents of those backpacks to use as well as to get outdoors and become more active; however, summer presents health and safety issues we need to deal with in order to prevent injury and illness. Many injuries and illnesses can be prevented if proper precautions are taken, allowing for a more enjoyable season.

Here are some common summer health and safety issues that many of us may face and some tips on how to deal with them:

- Asthma is the leading chronic illness among children today. Asthma is a disease in which the airways of the lungs, or bronchial tubes, constrict or close due to irritation or inflammation. Asthma may be triggered by allergies, smoke (cigar, cigarette and camp fire) and exercise. Make sure to carry medicine with you for yourself or others at all times.

- If you are going walking, running, biking, roller skating or skate boarding, make sure you wear protective equipment, including bright colored clothes, proper shoes, elbow pads, knee pads and helmets. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings. Stay on the sidewalks when possible and be cautious of traffic.

- When planning a picnic, make sure you are able to regulate the proper temperatures of foods you may be serving. Foods need to be kept cool in order to prevent spoiling and food-borne illnesses. Have a separate cooler for meats. If you will be using ice for beverages, do not use the ice from the meat cooler. Make sure you have a separate cooler of ice for beverages. Cook foods to their proper temperatures. Do not leave foods in the sun for too long.

- Mosquitoes are always a sign that summer is here. West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne infection, first appeared in New York state in 1999. West Nile virus can cause serious illness and in some cases death. By taking small, simple steps you can reduce your risk even further. Mosquitoes love standing water. Some steps you can take to reduce or eliminate all standing water around your home:

• Dispose of plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers

• Dispose of used tires

• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use

• Change the water in bird baths twice a week

Protect yourself from mosquitoes by wearing shoes and socks, long pants, long-sleeved shirts and using insect repellent.

- Rabies is a fatal disease that cannot be cured once a person begins to have symptoms. People can get rabies if they are exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a rabid animal through a bite or scratch. Stay away from wild animals. If you encounter a young wild animal that is obviously injured or orphaned, you may call a wildlife rehabilitator for advice or help. Do not attempt to pick up the animal, and do not bring the animal home.

Summer is a fun time of year. Maintaining a balance between fun and safety is simple. Be aware of your surroundings. Take small steps to make your family safe while enjoying the outdoors.

Elane Daly is director of Health and Human Services for Cayuga County. She can be reached at 253-1560 or cchealth@dfa.state.ny.us