How long can you keep lunch meat in the fridge safely? How about hard boiled egss? What foods can you freeze without ruining. Is that tuna salad that’s 10 days old still safe to eat? For the answer to these and more questions go to the USDA’s website which has a page on food safety. Click the link belo
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/basics_for_handling_food_safely/
GotSafety.ORG is devoted to keeping people safe and out of the Emergency Department (ED). The tips contained in the Monthly Newsletters and Safety Books have been collected from the medical literature, from general health literature and from the stories of thousands of patients I have cared for in the ED.
You can support GotSafety.ORG by spreading the word through a free subscription to our Monthly Newsletter or by purchasing Safety Books for yourself or friends (They make great gifts). In addition, please consider making a $20 donation. Each donation pays for ten copies of the pocket version of Think Twice: More Lessons from the ER as gifts for ten ED patients.
Sincerely,
Brady Pregerson, MD
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If we all are better about keeping our germs to ourself not only could that protect us from bird flu, SARS and E. coli but also from the many more common conditions that we unfortunately share. “How should I sneeze or cough?” is actually an important question to ask yourself. The best places to aim are probably down your shirt or into your elbow. The worst places are in your hands or into space. To watch a funny yet educational video on this topic click here
Don’t buy a Christmas tree (or Hanukkah bush) that doesn’t look fresh. Dry needles increase the risk of fire. Each year there are more than 400 home fires related to these trees. Look for green needles that don’t seem dried out. A fresh cut on the trunk before immediately putting the tree in water will help it stay green longer. Check the water level in the tree-stand daily as the tree may “drink” a lot, especially at first. Also keep the tree away from heat sources and don’t use more than three sets of lights on one extension cord. Lights out at bedtime. Alternatively buy a “fake” tree. You have to store it, but no needle mess, no landfill space and you’ll end up saving money.
The holidays are coming sooner than you think. If your business gives gifts to customers or if you just need to stock up on some stocking stuffers, please consider THINK TWICE: MORE LESSONS FROM THE ER. It’s the perfect gift and it helps keep your customers safe, so they can stay your customers.
Do Calf Squeezers in Lines: One common cause of fainting, and the resultant injury, is prolonged standing. When you stand for too long the blood begins to pool in your leg veins. This may mean poorer circulation to the brain and thus fainting. This pooling of blood does not occur while walking because the muscle activity in the legs actually helps to push the blood against gravity back to your heart. If you are stuck standing in a long line, do some calf squeezers and toe raises to keep the blood flowing. It’s good for you back too.
Do Calf Squeezers on Planes: On a similar note, if you are on a long flight, do some form of leg excercise every half hour while awake. This will help prevent blood clots, which may start to form when blood pools in the calves and legs.
Eggs can carry and transmit Salmonella infections. To minimize the risk, follow the advise below
Daylight savings time and Halloween are coming. Here are some important safety tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents.
Be Carving Safe:Buy and use a carving kit rather than a kitchen knife. Every year hundreds of people end up in the ER for finger lacerations from carving pumpkins. Some severe tendons, and end up requiring more major surgery.
Be Crosswalk Safe: When holding a child’s hand crossing the street make sure you are holding their hand rather that the other way around. If they are holding your finger or part of your hand, they could let go. If you have your hand around theirs, then you are in control and they are safer. A little life could depend on it.
Be Street Safe: Avoid dark costumes. Choose light colors or add reflective material to costumes. Carry flashlights. Avoid masks that obscure peripheral vision or teach your children to keep the masks tipped up and back until they ring the doorbell. Stay out of the street except for crosswalks and even then be very careful.
Be House Safe: Check your property yearly, if not more often, for tripping hazards, poor lighting or low branches that could injure a running teen or child. What better month to do this than in October, when on the 31st many strangers may be walking up and back from your front door? Also make sure your pets are not going to put anyone at risk. We see as many injuries from dogs causing trips and falls as we do from bites.
Be Fire Safe: Try to use battery powered lights rather than candles. Avoid costumes with low hanging material or that are not flame-resistant. Teach your children how to “Stop-Drop-and-Roll” (Dropping is the most important part of this)
Be Food Safe: Prepare a large wholesome meal so your family doesn’t overindulge. Inspect candy before your children eat it. Allergies to unfound peanut products are the number one cause of ER visits from halloween candy.
To minimize risk of skin cancer sunscreen is only one part of the picture. Hats, protective clothing and avoiding the sun between 10AM and 4PM also help.
To ensure protection against both UVA & UVB rays, look for sunscreen that is labelled “broad spectrum” and contains zinc-oxide, titanium-dioxide or avobenzone. Look for an SPF of at least 30. In the 2007 Consumer Reports analysis to performers were Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 45 and No-Ad Sunblock Lotion Maximum SPF 45
Apply suscreen 15-30 minutes before sun exposure whenever possible and reapply every 2 hours or sooner if you have been sweating or swimming. Waterproof products will only last for about 1 hour in the water. When you buy sunscreen, write the date on it in indelible pen, throw it away after 2 years.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has information for preventing diseases that are the top killers in the US: Heart Disease, Cancer and Stroke. Not smoking, healthy diet, and regualr visits to your doctor of course top the list. Click below for more info
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