Hot Fun in the Summertime

Happy 4th of July
this blog will run through July 11. Have fun, be safe

I am writing this on the official first day of summer. July 4th is coming up. Time for camping trips, picnics, reunions and summer fun.

Food safety tips to keep you out of the emergency room with food poisoning:

“Bacteria love the hot, humid days of summer, and grow faster than at any other time of the year. When the temperature is above 90 F, the time perishable food can be left outside the refrigerator or freezer drops from two hours to one hour.
· At the same time temperatures rise, we're more likely to leave food unrefrigerated for longer time periods. Food sits out at picnics, barbecues and during travel.
· Keep perishable foods cool by transporting them to a picnic site in an insulated cooler kept cold with ice or frozen gel packs. Perishable foods include meat; poultry; seafood; eggs; dairy products; pasta; rice; cooked vegetables; and fresh, peeled and/or cut fruits and vegetables.
· Pack the cooler immediately before leaving home with foods that have been kept chilled in the refrigerator.
· Avoid frequently opening the cooler container containing perishable food. Pack beverages in one cooler and perishables in another.
· Keep the cooler in an air-conditioned vehicle for transporting and then keep in the shade or shelter at the picnic site. To avoid frequently opening the cooler, open it once to remove only the amount of food that will be eaten immediately. Keep raw meat, poultry and seafood wrapped separately from cooked foods, or foods meant to be eaten raw, such as fruits and vegetables.
· Throw away any perishable leftovers that have been kept out over two hours (one hour if the temperature is above 90 F).” From: http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/ftjun04.htm

Confidential from Diane to you: if you feel guilty throwing food away I hereby give you permission, otherwise, just eat it and go straight to the emergency room with your co-pay.

· Keep your cooler clean. Pack items in the order they will be used. Try to not keep opening and closing the cooler.
· Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

For symptoms of food poisoning:
· http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-poisoning/ds00981/dsection=symptoms

Barbecuing

Carrying meat, chicken, fish, ribs raw on a plate to the grill? DON’T put the cooked product back on the same unwashed plate. Wash the plate or take a different one for the cooked meat/chicken etc. Same goes for tongs used to place the stuff on the grill, flip it and take it off. Use different tongs. Why? GERMS and cross contamination. If you aren’t at someone’s home, go prepared with extra utensils and plates.

As long as we are talking about grilling meats: THINK LEAN. Chicken breast, low fat hot dogs or turkey franks, read your labels. My theory is this about hot dogs-they are the conduit to sauerkraut so with enough mustard and sauerkraut you can’t even tell that you aren’t “eating the real thing”. Of course, my husband will have my head if I ever serve him tofu hot dogs again, he doesn’t buy my mustard and sauerkraut theory.

Some lean cuts of beef
· Flank steak
· Top sirloin
· Eye round roast and steak
· 95% lean ground beef
· Brisket *flat half”—trim away fat from other side for less fat

**Marinades-once meat/chicken/fish is marinated and on the grill (or the oven or stove top for that matter) it’s OK to toss the leftover marinade onto the cooking meat but NEVER use it as a sauce or juice for the cooked meat. If you want more sauce for the cooked meats, set some aside or make extra.

For more information on food safety please refer to the link below:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/Food_Safety_While_Hiking_Camping_&_Boating/index.asp

Sunscreen http://www.aad.org/suntelligence/ Take this quick quiz about your skin’s health and sunshine. The American Academy of Dermatology website has such great information for you to peruse. http://www.playsmartsun.org/sun_safety.htm

Sun Basics
· Use Sunscreen 30 SPF
· Hypoallergenic available for those with sensitive skin or buy the kid’s sunscreen, adults can use it.
· Wear sunglasses, your eyes can get fried from the bright sun,
· Wear a hat, this keeps the sun off your head
· Stay hydrated with water. Alcoholic beverages do not quench your thirst or hydrate you.

Heatstroke and Dehydration- According to mayoclinic.com, children, older adults, obese people and people born with an impaired ability to sweat are at high risk for heatstroke.
“The main sign of heatstroke is a markedly elevated body temperature — generally greater than 104 F (40 C) — with changes in mental status ranging from personality changes to confusion and coma. Skin may be hot and dry — although if heatstroke is caused by exertion, the skin may be moist.
Other signs and symptoms may include:
§ Rapid heartbeat
§ Rapid and shallow breathing
§ Elevated or lowered blood pressure
§ Cessation of sweating
§ Irritability, confusion or unconsciousness
§ Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
§ Headache
§ Nausea
§ Fainting, which may be the first sign in older adults
If you suspect heatstroke:
§ Move the person out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned space.
§ Call 911 or emergency medical help
§ Cool the person by covering him or her with damp sheets or by spraying with cool water. Direct air onto the person with a fan or newspaper.
§ Have the person drink cool water or other nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine, if he or she is able.”
From www.mayoclinic.com

Sources about child safety this summer
http://american.redcross.org/site/DocServer/watersafety0609.pdf?docID=735
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.cfm

And for those of you who take their dogs on outings:
http://www.avma.org/firstaid/default.asp

From me to you: If you are taking your pooch(es) with you, please make sure they have current ID tags. It is heartbreaking when your pet gets separated from you, especially for those of us who find him or her and are trying to reunite Bowser with his/her owner.

Don’t leave pets or children unattended in a hot car, even for a few minutes.

If you don’t have a computer, I will be happy to print off information from any of the links I provided. Diane 406-444-0593.

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” Sam Keen