Weekly Health Beat
Preventing Summer Foodborne Illness | Open House at Kanawha Medical Clinic | HCMH Foundation Golf Tournament | Specialty Physician Schedule
Preventing Summer Foodborne Illness
Year after year, we hear and read the same advice: Handle food carefully in the summer because foodborne illness — also known as "food poisoning" — is more prevalent in warmer weather. Do foodborne illnesses increase during the summer months?
Yes, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), foodborne illnesses do increase during the summer, and the answer appears to be twofold. First, there are the natural causes. Bacteria are present throughout the environment in soil, air, water, and in the bodies of people and animals. These microorganisms grow faster in the warm summer months. Most foodborne bacteria grow fastest at temperatures from 90 to 110 degrees F. Bacteria also need moisture to flourish, and summer weather is often hot and humid.
Given the right circumstances, harmful bacteria can quickly multiply on food to large numbers. When this happens, someone eating the food can get sick.
Second, there are the "people" causes for the upswing in summertime foodborne illnesses. Outside activities increase. More people are cooking outside at picnics, barbecues, and on camping trips. The safety controls that a kitchen provides — thermostat-controlled cooking, refrigeration, and washing facilities — are usually not available.
Fortunately, people seldom get sick from contaminated food because most people have a healthy immune system that protects them. At the same time, the USDA and food producers go to great lengths to keep food safe. And, of course, consumers can protect themselves at home with proper refrigeration and thorough cooking of perishable food.
The USDA urges consumers to follow these four simple steps to safer food in the summertime.
Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often. Unwashed hands are a prime cause of foodborne illness. When traveling, pack moist towelettes for cleaning hands and surfaces.
Separate: Cross-contamination during preparation, grilling, and serving food is a prime cause of foodborne illness. When packing the cooler, wrap raw meats securely to avoid juices from coming in contact with ready-to-eat food. Wash plates, utensils, and cutting boards that held the raw meat or poultry before using again for cooked food.
Cook: Food is safely cooked when it is heated for a long enough time and at a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Take your thermometer along. Meat and poultry cooked on a grill often browns very fast on the outside, so be sure that meats are cooked thoroughly.
Chill: Holding food at an unsafe temperature is a prime cause of foodborne illness. Keep cold food cold!
What to do with leftovers? Food left out of refrigeration for more than two hours may not be safe to eat. Above 90 degrees F, food should not be left out over one hour. Play it safe; put leftover perishables back on ice once you finish eating so they do not spoil or become unsafe to eat. If you have any doubts, throw it out.
Open House at Kanawha Medical Clinic
The public is invited to an open house at the Kanawha Medical Clinic on Thursday, July 31, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Take a tour of the newly renovated facility, meet the staff, and enjoy an ice cream sundae!
HCMH Foundation Golf Tournament
Register now to golf in the HCMH Foundation’s annual golf tournament to be held Friday, August 15, at Slippery Elm Golf Course in Klemme. Be sure to join us for a day of fun for a worthwhile cause. Proceeds from this year’s event go to support renovations in the inpatient care area. Registration materials are available at the hospital or by visiting the hospital’s web site at hancockmemhospital.com.
Next Week’s Specialty Physician Schedule:
For the convenience of area residents, the following Specialty Clinics are available in the coming week at HCMH in Britt. Call HCMH at 641.843.5000 or 1.800.255.9389 for more information on any of our specialty services.
Monday, July 28
Orthopedic Clinic: Dr. Crane
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Ahari
Tuesday, July 29
Cardiology Clinic: Dr. Zadeii, Mercy Heart Center
Wednesday, July 30
Urology Clinic: Dr. MacGregor
Surgical Clinic: Dr. Unger
HCMH Providers Available at the Britt Medical Clinic:
Ann Boileau, D.O.
Lissa Holloway, PA-C
Jerry Nelson, M.D.
Ashlea Schaumburg, PA-C
Saturday Clinic: 9:00 a.m. – noon.
HCMH Providers Available at the Garner Family Practice Clinic:
John Boedeker, D.O.
Ann Boileau, D.O.
Jerry Nelson, M.D.
Kathryn Pottratz, ARNP
Monday and Wednesday Clinics to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Clinic: 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Kanawha Medical Clinic:
Lissa Holloway, PA-C
Ashlea Schaumburg, PA-C
Wesley Medical Clinic:
Angela McGregor, ARNP