Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Summer 2019

lakeregional.com 5 NEED CARE NOW? Have a bad sunburn or other illness that isn’t life- threatening? Get care at one of our Express Care locations. Book online at lakeregional.com/expresscare . FAMILY To help prevent foodborne illness, especially during picnics and cookouts: • Never eat food that’s been left out for longer than two hours — or longer than one hour on 90-degree days. • Place picnic perishables in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. Keeping foods at 40 degrees or below prevents bacterial growth. • Don’t spread germs. When grilling, use separate utensils and dishes for raw and cooked foods. • Clean fresh fruits and veggies with running tap water before putting them in the cooler or before eating. This includes produce with skin or rinds you don’t eat, like melons or mangoes. • Remind everyone to wash their hands before and after handling food. 6 No helmet, no ride Summer is a great time for the whole family to go bike riding. But it’s important that everyone wears a helmet — including Mom and Dad. This simple step can help prevent devastating head injuries. Some kids love to wear helmets. Others not so much. But parents should insist on them, no matter how short the ride or how strong the protest. Kids may be less likely to resist wearing a helmet if they can pick one they like. 7 Beware of bugs Some mosquitoes and ticks can spread serious diseases like West Nile virus, Zika virus or Lyme disease. Take these precautions: • Prevent mosquito and tick bites by using an insect repel- lent on your skin that contains DEET. Treat outdoor gear and clothing with insect repellent that contains permethrin. Always read the label to make sure you use all insect repellents correctly. • Skip the shorts. Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts when- ever possible. • After hiking, check your clothes, hair and skin for ticks. 3 Don’t swim alone No one should swim alone, including adults. Remember that kids need close supervision even at public pools where lifeguards are on duty. 4 Wear a life jacket while boating Drowning is the cause of most boating-related deaths. 5 Keep food safe Food poisoning can happen more easily in the summer because higher temps can make foodborne bacteria grow quickly.