Hand Washing
This is the best kept secret in the medical world but the Health Department will reveal it to you now:
The most important thing that you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands.
By frequently washing your hands you wash away germs that you have picked up from other people, or from contaminated surfaces, or from animals and animal waste.
It is especially important to wash your hands
Before, during and after you prepare food
Before you eat, and after you use the bathroom
After handling animals or animal waste.
When your hands are dirty, and
More frequently when someone in your home is sick.
First wet your hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Place the bar soap on a rack and allow it to drain.
Next rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces.
Continue for 10-15 seconds or about the length of a little tune like Happy Birthday. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remover germs. It is not necessary to use anti-bacterial soap.
Rinse well and dry your hands.
It is estimated that one out three people do not wash their hands after using the restroom. So, here’s a thought-Who prepared your lunch?
Washing your hands regularly can certainly save a lot on medical bills. Because it costs less than a penny, you could say that this penny’s worth of prevention can save you a $60 visit to the doctor.
.
Food Safety in a Power Outage
Power outages in our community are a concern to residents not only because of the inconvenience but also for safety reasons. Being prepared ahead of time is the best way to deal with these times.
What do I need?
One or more inexpensive Styrofoam coolers
Shelf stable foods such as canned goods and powdered milk
Digital quick response thermometer. These types can quickly check the internal temperatures of food for safety.
Keep frozen water jugs in your freezer. Frozen ice jugs will serve as ice blocks for the refrigerator/cooler and freezer, as well as drinking water in the event of a power outage.
Have at least a 3 day supply of water, one gallon per person per day.
What should I do?
Do not open the refrigerator of freezer. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold enough for a couple of hours at least. A freezer that is half full will hold for up to 24 hours and a full freezer for 48 hours.
If it looks like the power outage will be for more than 2 – 4 hours, pack refrigerated milk, dairy products, meats, fish, poultry, eggs, gravy, stuffing and left overs into your cooler surrounded by ice.
If the outage will be prolonged, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items.
What temperatures do I need to maintain?
Foods need to stay at a temperature below 40 degrees F. to remain safe to eat. Foods that have remained at 40 degrees F or higher for 2 hours or more are considered unsafe to eat.
When in doubt---throw it out.
For more information, look up these websites:
www.hormel.com and look for “power outage food safety”
www.redcross.org and look for “food safety”
Getting Ready
Recently a family member has come to live with us. She is dependent on oxygen and the machine that provides it. Of course this device runs on electricity and that fact got me thinking about power shortages and outages. I began to plan for such events by purchasing a small generator. That purchase has led me to think about being prepared for any disaster.
After I ran all the “what ifs” through my mind, I settled down with pencil and paper to make a plan. First I listed nonperishable goods that I already had on hand and then I added items I would need to make meals for 2 weeks. I ran out of ideas after that so I turned to the web. I looked up these sites to complete my ideas.
www.prepare.org www.ready.gov www.redcross.org
www.fema.gov www.providentliving.org
Hope this gives you some ideas that you can do at your home. All disasters happen to individuals first, then the neighborhood, then the community. If each of us is prepared as best we can, we can help each other and those who are least able to prepare ahead of time.
West Nile Virus
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus is carried and spread by mosquitoes and can cause fatal inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes covering the brain or spinal cord (meningitis). It is closely related to St. Lou8is encephalitis virus, found in North America.
There is currently no vaccine against West Nile virus for humans.
When did the virus come to North American?
The West Nile Virus was first identified in Uganda in 1937 and first appeared in North America in 1999 in the New York City area. Encephalitis was reported in humans and horses at that time. It has been in Utah since 2003
How serious is this disease?
For every five people infected with West Nile, one has mild illness usually lasting three to six days. Meningitis or encephalitis (inflammation or infection of the covering of the brain) develops in about one in 50 people infected with West Nile virus. It is more common in those over age 50.
The virus in North America appears to very virulent and has more of a tendency to invade the central nervous system and infect neurons and brain stem regions within the individual.
What should I do to protect myself and my family?
The mosquitoes that carry the virus are active from dusk to dawn. Wear long sleeves and long pants, use repellent with DEET on exposed skin especially on wrists, back of neck and ears. Adults can use preparations with 30% but children under 12 need only use preparations with 10%. DEET masks the carbon dioxide humans breathe out so we are hidden from the mosquitoes.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are usually mild and include fever, headache, body aches, sometimes skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Severe infection is marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, with coma, tremors, convulsions paralysis and occasionally death.
Any one with those symptoms should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
If illness occurs, it usually happens within five to 15 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito.
The Flu in Southern Utah
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Every year in the United States, on average:
5% to 20% of the population gets the flu
More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications
About 36,000 people die from flu
Good Health Habits
Good health habits are an important way to help prevent the flu.
Avoid close contact
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick
If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness
Cover your moth and nose
Cover your mother and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick
Clean your hands
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Vaccination
The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each fall. There are two types of vaccines:
The flu shot – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus). This is given by a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. the type is approved for use in healthy people 5 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
About two weeks after vaccination, the body develops antibodies that protect against influenza virus infection. Please be aware that this vaccine does not protect against influenza-like illnesses caused by other viruses.
October or November is the best time to get vaccinated. The Southwest Utah Public Health Department working with Dixie Regional Medical Center and the rest of the Flu Coalition will be hosting a drive-thru flu clinic on November 4, 2006 at Dixie State College from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a great opportunity to get your flu shot but getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be beneficial. Flu season can begin as early as November and last as late as May.
People at High Risk for complications from the flu:
People 65 years and older.
All children 6 to 23 months of age
People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house those with long-term illnesses
Adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma
Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
People 50 to 64 years of age.
Nearly one-third of people 50 to 64 years of age in the United States have one or more medical conditions that place them at increased risk for serious flu complications.
Who should not be vaccinated
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician.
People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
Children less than 6 months of age
People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, consult your health care provider.
For more information, these web sites are very helpful.
www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/infants.htm
www.cedc.gov/flu/about/qa/fluvaccine.htm
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm
www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm
