How to Protect Your Family From Food Poisoning During Summer Outings
posted by Lehi Willowcreek Family Medicine | June 20, 2016
What’s the best thing about summer vacation, besides no school? Eating outside! It’s time to pull those ice chests and picnic baskets out of storage and clean off the grill. It’s also the perfect time to freshen up on your food safety skills. Foodborne bacteria love warm weather as much as we do.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year, approximately 48 million Americans, or 1 in 6, get sick from food-poisoning-related illnesses.128,000 of these cases require hospitalization, and 3,000 result in death. Young children, pregnant women and adults over 65 are especially vulnerable to foodborne illnesses and typically experience more serious symptoms.
Abdominal pain and cramps
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Loss of appetite
Scrub your fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water.
Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, poultry or eggs.
Use separate cutting boards and utensils for vegetables and meats.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water during and after food preparation.
Don’t handle food if you have an infection.
Muscle weakness
Slowed or slurred speech
Difficulty swallowing and dry mouth
Blurred or double vision
Droopy eyelids
Preserve food safely if you do your own canning.
Examine canned and jarred foods before purchasing or opening, and discard any container that has dents, bulges or leaks.
Listen for rushing air when you open a container that indicates the food may be spoiled.
Never give honey to children under 1 year of age; it’s a frequent cause of infant botulism.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. You should always consult your doctor before making decisions about your health.