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Food safety For cookouts and picnics, temperature is key to
avoiding foodborne illness.
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Use a meat
thermometer to make sure all meat and poultry is properly cooked
-- ground beef hamburgers to 160 degrees F and hot dogs to 165
degrees.
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Use a clean plate
and utensils when taking food off the grill.
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Keep hot food hot,
140 degrees or above, and cold food cold, 40 degrees or below.
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Refrigerate leftovers within two hours.
The symptoms of most types of food poisoning include severe
cramps, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
Symptoms can begin from 30 minutes to three or more days after
eating contaminated food. If symptoms are severe or last longer than
two days, contact a doctor or health care provider.
Water safety
Whether at the beach, on the lake or in a swimming pool, use
safety precautions.
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Supervise young
children around water.
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Avoid alcohol
while supervising children and before or during swimming,
boating or waterskiing.
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Always use life
jackets and secure personal flotation devices. Do not substitute
air-filled or foam toys for safety gear.
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Shower before
enter a swimming pool, and do not swim if you have diarrhea.
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Be aware of the
local weather conditions and forecast. Especially watch for
thunderstorms with lightning.
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Know and obey the
posted warnings that indicate beach conditions.
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Pay attention to lifeguards or posted
instructions.
Sun and heat
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Protect yourself
against sunburn and heat illness.
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Apply sunscreen
with SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outside.
-
Increase your
fluids. Drink more liquid than your thirst indicates; avoid
alcohol and caffeine.
-
Wear lightweight, light-colored,
loosing-fitting clothing.
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Be aware of heat
exhaustion symptoms -- heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness,
nausea, clammy skin, pale or flushed complexion, and fast and
shallow breathing.
-
Be aware of
heatstroke symptoms -- hot, dry skin, hallucinations, chills,
throbbing headache, high body temperature, confusion, dizziness
and slurred speech.
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Heatstroke treatment -- Call 911;
quickly cool the person in a cool bath or wrap wet sheets
around them; if the victim refuses water, is vomiting or
shows a decreased level of consciousness, do not give
anything to eat or drink
Ticks and mosquitoes
When camping, hiking or in your own backyard, guard against
insect illnesses.
Mosquitoes can
transmit West Nile virus and ticks can transmit Lyme disease,
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and other serious
infections
Avoid being
outside during prime mosquito-biting hours, dusk to dawn, and
apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of
lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions
-
Avoid
tick-infested areas, such as the woods and high grasses, and use
repellent containing 20 percent DEET or treat clothing with the
repellent permethrin.
-
Remove ticks
attached to the body using a pair of tweezers, and call your
health care provider if you develop a rash, fever or body aches
during the one to three weeks following a bite.
-
Check with a
veterinarian about preventing tick-borne diseases in pets, as
they can carry ticks into the home.
For more information on summer safety, check out the "Summer? No
Sweat. A Summer Survival Guide" at
www.idph.state.il.us/public/books/summtoc.htm.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
