Morgan County Health Department

FOODBORNE ILLNESSES tend to increase during the summer months for two reasons. One reason is that bacteria tend to multiply faster when it’s warm. Another reason is that people are cooking more outside, away from the kitchen's refrigerators, thermometers, and washing facilities.

• CLEAN surfaces, hands and utensils with warm water and soap. Wash produce under running water before cutting, eating, or cooking.
• SEPARATE raw and cooked meat and poultry from ready-to-eat foods (raw vegetables and fruits). Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat and ready-to-eat items like vegetables or bread.
• COOK food to the proper temperature – use a food thermometer to check.
- Beef, pork, lamb and veal (steaks, roasts, chops): 145 °F with a three-minute rest time
- Ground meats: 160 °F
- Whole poultry, poultry breasts, and ground poultry: 165 °F
• CHILL. Perishable food should not sit out for more than two hours. In hot weather (above 90 °F), food should NEVER sit out for more than one hour.
For more information, please visit FoodSafety.gov

FIREWORKS light up the sky on the 4th of July, but they are best left to the professionals. Keep in mind, too, that sparklers burn at 2000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks or sparklers. Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Only use fireworks away from people, houses, and flammable material
• Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.
• Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.

For more information, please visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website: https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks.

Bites from mosquitoes and ticks can make you sick. These pests can spread germs that cause diseases like West Nile and Lyme disease. You can "fight the bite" and protect yourself by:

1. Using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent (https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents). When used as directed, these repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

2. Wearing loose-fitting, long clothing.

3. Treating clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin.

Learn more:
https://youtu.be/SOzkBt9JFNo

During extremely hot and humid weather, your body's ability to cool itself is challenged. When the body heats too rapidly to cool itself properly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating, body temperatures rise and you or someone you care about may experience a heat-related illness. It is important to know the symptoms of extreme heat exposure and the appropriate responses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a list of warning signs and symptoms of heat illness, and recommended first aid steps: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/heat-stress/about/illnesses.html

When in doubt, call 9-1-1, heat stroke and related are medical emergencies.