Release Date: August
25, 2011
End Date:
September 1, 2011
Contact
Person: Dorothy Wicks, RS,
Environmental Health Supervisor
Phone: (810) 257- 3603
RE: Tips
to Avoid Getting Sick This Summer
The Genesee County Health Department (GCHD)
would like to remind everyone
to stay healthy and enjoy the remaining summer days by avoiding getting
sick. There has been an increase in illnesses that cause diarrhea such
as shigellosis recently in the county this summer. Some summer
activities including picnics, outdoor public swimming, and barbecues
provide the perfect setting to spread these diseases.
Many
diseases that cause diarrhea are very contagious. Here are some tips
from the GCHD to help prevent the spread of disease:
-
Practice good hand
hygiene. Clean hands often with soap and water especially before
preparing or eating food and after using the restroom or changing a
diaper. Teach your children to do the same.
-
Prepare foods properly.
Fully cook meat, chicken, and eggs to the proper temperature and
keep raw meat away from cooked and other foods. Do not prepare food
when ill with diarrhea.
-
Diarrhea and swimming don’t mix! Do
not swim when you have diarrhea. Diapered children should not swim
if they have had diarrhea in the previous two weeks. Also, those who
have diarrhea should not use hot tubs or spas.
-
Stay away from others
when ill. Children should not attend school, camps, or childcare
settings with diarrhea and should follow a doctor’s advice about
returning to school or day care. Similarly, adults who work in
school, camp, and childcare settings as well as those who work as
food handlers should not go to work until their symptoms have
resolved and they have been cleared to return to work by a
physician.
-
Clean and
disinfect. In households with cases of diarrhea clean the bathroom,
including the toilet flushing handle, water faucets and doorknobs,
with 1part bleach in 10 parts water (make a fresh solution
everyday). Wash and disinfect toys that can be put in a child’s
mouth after each child’s use.
Seek medical care immediately if you experience any of the following
symptoms:
-
your diarrhea is
bloody
-
your diarrhea does not
resolve in 5 days
-
your
diarrhea is accompanied by fever or chills
-
you are dehydrated
(Signs of dehydration include: dry or "cottony" mouth, cracked lips,
dry flushed skin, headache, irritability, not urinating at least
four times a day, no tears when crying, not sweating, or confusion)
Visit
www.gchd.us for more information about
summer safety and diseases that cause diarrhea such as shigellosis.
