Four ways to have a safe Fourth of July
CAROL SEAVEY Live Well editor | Posted: Thursday, August 20, 2009 12:00 am
Fourth of July activities such
as camping, cooking out and watching fireworks are great
opportunities to bond with friends and family, but they also
provide more chances for injury and illness.
With a few safety precautions,
you can still enjoy your favorite holiday activities. Just follow
these guidelines for a fun and safe Fourth of
July.
1. AVOID A FIRE
More than
400,000 people in the U.S. sustained injuries due to fire or burns
in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services Centers for Disease Control. To avoid injuries, Dave
Baker, fire investigator and prevention officer for Natrona County
Fire Protection District, suggests the
following:
• Always
use a designated camp ring for campfires.
• Never
leave a fire unattended.
• Keep
combustible materials at least three feet away from all fire
sources.
• Make
sure Tiki torches are properly secured.
2. EAT SAFE
Avoid
foodborne illness, also known as
food poisoning, caused by bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli
by keeping hot food hot and cold food cold during picnics and
barbecues. Bacteria multiply the quickest in the danger zone: 41 to
135 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Karla Case, nutrition and food
safety educator at the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension
Service.
"In the
danger zone, it [bacteria] doubles every
20 minutes," Case
said.
If hot or
cold food sits out for more than two hours, toss it. It could be a
breeding ground for bacteria.
Better
yet, keep hot food hot and cold food cold until it's time to serve
it.
"If you
normally keep it refrigerated at home, that's something you want to
keep refrigerated in a picnic environment," Case
said.
Here are
a few tips from Case on how to have a safe picnic or
barbecue:
• Bring
extra coolers to make sure you're keeping food at the right
temperature until you serve it. For cold foods, that temperature is
less than 41 degrees. Bacteria can grow especially fast on raw
meat, so leave it in the cooler until it's time to throw it on the
grill.
• Wash
fruits like cantaloupe and watermelon with water and a scrubber.
Even though you're not eating the rind, bacteria can spread into
the fruit when you slice into it with a knife. Once it's sliced, it
needs to be refrigerated.
• Bring
along a food thermometer to make sure you're cooking food hot
enough to kill bacteria. For hamburgers, that's 160 degrees. To see
safe cooking temperatures for other types of meat, see www.befoodsafe.org/temperature.
• Keep
hot foods, such as hamburgers, above 135 degrees until people are
ready to eat.
"You
can't cook burgers up on a grill and leave them on a plate because
they'll cool down," Case said, which could allow bacteria to
grow.
3. DRINK SAFE
Do not drink alcohol if
you are planning to drive or
participate in other activities which require skill, coordination
and alertness. Binge drinking - four or more drinks at a time for
women and five or more drinks at a time for men - increases one's
risk for unintentional injuries, including traffic injuries, falls,
drowning, burns and unintentional firearm injuries, according to
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for
Disease Control.
If you
plan to drink, do so in moderation, which the CDC defines as one
drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, and plan
for a sober cab.
If you're
hosting a party, be sure to have plenty of nonalcoholic beverages
available to guests.
4. PROTECT FIDO
A hot,
summer day full of outdoor activities, crowds of people and loud
fireworks could be too much for some dogs. To decide what's best
for your dog, you have to know your dog, said Richard Schwahn, a
veterinarian at Popish Veterinary Clinic in
Casper.
For
example, if your dog gets skittish during thunderstorms it may be
wise to leave it at home when you go to see
fireworks.
"If they
get excited or over-nervous; they could run off," Schwahn
said.
If your
dog is sensitive to noise and it is unavoidable, consider asking
your veterinarian for a prescription sedative.
Fireworks
don't cause permanent damage to dogs' ears, Schwahn said. So if
your dog tolerates loud noises well, it's OK to bring it along to
see the fireworks. Just hold on tight to the
leash!
Another
summer danger for dogs is heat exhaustion. Whether you leave your
dog at home or taking it with you to a barbecue, make sure there is
plenty of shade and water.
"As long
as you have plenty of both, you should be in pretty good shape,"
Schwahn said.
When dogs
overheat, they stop moving, pant excessively and, eventually,
collapse. If this happens to your dog, Schwahn suggests calling
your veterinarian and soaking the dog in cool water to bring its
temperature down.
