Memorial Day

Memorial Day is May 26, 2008

Memorial Day weekend is considered by most as the unofficial start of summer, at least in Texas. Many people spend the extended weekend on outdoor activities such asbarbecuing or spending time at a park or poolside. Whichever activity you pursue, there are always tips to keep in mind to maintain safety and comfort for you, family, and friends.

Food Safety

Safe food handling are common sense to most, but extra precautions should be taken to prevent food-borne illnesses. Warmer temperatures outside encourage bacteria, which causes food poisoning, to grow at an even more alarming rate.

The State Department of Health and Services recommends the following guidelines to take to keep your food safe:

Summertime food safety

Take special care to keep your meals from making people sick. Although safe food handling should always apply, extra precautions are necessary during spring and summer to prevent food-borne illnesses. Due to warmer temperatures outside, bacteria that causes food poisoning grows rapidly. Some basic rules to follow in order to keep your meals safe:

Clean Always wash your hands, utensils and surfaces with hot soapy water before and after food preparation - especially after preparing meat, poultry, eggs or seafood.
Separate. Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs and seafood and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods. Never place cooked food on an unwashed plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, eggs or seafood. Use a clean plate, or wash it thoroughly in hot, soapy water before transferring the burgers from grill back to the plate.
Cook. Cook meats to the proper internal temperature listed below. There are several food thermometers on the market that can help you determine when meat is thoroughly cooked.

Chill. Refrigerate or freeze food and leftovers within two hours. When using coolers, remember that a full cooler will keep a cold temperature longer than a half empty cooler. So, pack plenty of ice. Also, try to keep the cooler out of the direct sunlight.

Stay safe in the sun

Exposure to the sun can cause sunburn, which could ultimately lead to skin cancer. When you are enjoying the outdoors, protect yourself with hats, long-sleeved shirts, pants and sunscreen. Some things to consider:

Avoid exposure to the midday sun (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) whenever possible.
Protect your skin by using sunscreen. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF). The higher SPF, the more sunburn protection is provided. Sunscreens with an SPF of 2 to 11 provide minimal protection against sunburn. Sunscreens with an SPF of 12 to 29 provide moderate protection. Those with an SPF of 30 or higher provide the most protection. Re-apply sunscreen often, especially after swimming or exercising.
Wear sunglasses that have UV-absorbing lenses. The label should specify that the lenses block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.

Protect yourself from 'creepy-crawlers'

While visiting fairs and petting zoos or taking walks in the outdoors, there are several opportunities to interact with animals and wildlife. Take some precautions to keep you and animals safe:

When you encounter a wild animal, give it space. Avoid contact with those acting abnormally.
If you pick up a turtle, frog, snake or other reptile, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. If you can't wash your hands, use a wet wipe followed by an alcohol based sanitizer. This will prevent the transmission of Salmonella, a bacteria that causes fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea in humans.
Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for your dogs, cats and ferrets
If an animal bite does occur, wash the wound with soap and water and contact a healthcare provider.
Always wash hands following contact with cattle and livestock, and the respective fecal material including manure used for farming or domestic gardening practices.

Mosquitoes and ticks are common in Texas and their bite can cause illness. You can reduce your exposure to mosquitoes and ticks by making sure window and door screens are in good condition and by properly using insect repellent. Other items to consider:

Limit the time spent outdoors at dawn and dusk.
Wear light colored long sleeve shirts and pants, shoes, and socks when outdoors.
Spray clothing with insect repellent as mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.
Dispose of tin cans, old tires, plastic containers, ceramic pots or any similar water-holding containers.
Make sure roof gutters drain properly and that downspouts are clean.
Change water in birdbaths regularly.
Turn over wheelbarrows, wading pools, boats, and canoes when not in use.
Walk in the center of mowed trails to avoid brushing up against vegetation.
Conduct thorough "tick checks" on yourself and your children after spending time outdoors. Prompt removal of ticks, even after they have attached, can drastically reduce the chance of Lyme disease.
Keep weeds, vines and grass trimmed, as mosquitoes use these areas to rest during hot daylight hours.

Keeping these tips in mind will make Memorial Day weekend events and activities that much more enjoyable and safe for you and your family.

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