It’s that time of year — cold and flu season is here. The good news is there are many ways to help prevent illness from striking you and your loved ones. You should always consider getting a flu shot each fall, and if you’re over 65, you may want to also get a pneumonia vaccination. If you are someone who wants to avoid needles, there are a number of other measures you can take to help prevent the spread of infection and illnesses.According to the Center for Disease Control, one of the most effective ways to prevent spreading illnesses is to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Although 20 seconds can seem like a long time (about the amount of time it would take to sing “Happy Birthday” to yourself twice), it takes that long to remove the germs. If your hands are not clean, don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth since germs enter the body through those areas.You can also use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Be sure to rub the sanitizer over all parts of your hands and continue to rub your hands until they are dry.How many times have you become sick after being exposed to people at work with a cold or the flu? Do everyone a favor, including yourself, and stay home if you’re sick. Remember to practice proper hand washing at home too. That will reduce the chance of others in your home becoming ill.A good habit to learn is to cough or sneeze into your elbow or some other part of your sleeve. That will prevent others from being exposed to your germs and also keep you from getting the germs on your hands and then passing them on.Food safety should be kept in mind year-round, not just during holiday meal season. Wash your hands before and after handling food. It is important to practice proper food handling with meat and poultry, in particular. A good rule-of-thumb is that if raw meat has come into contact with any surface (plate, countertop, cutting board, sink, etc.), that surface needs to be washed thoroughly with warm water and soap before it is used for anything else. After marinating raw meat, don’t use that same marinade and/or utensil for the cooked meat.Meat should not be left out at room temperature to thaw. There are three methods for properly thawing meat. If you thaw meat in the refrigerator, be sure to place it on a plate or other leak-proof surface. Meat can also be thawed in a microwave, but it should be cooked immediately afterward. A cold-water method can also be used. Place the items in a leak-proof plastic bag and submerge it in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes, and cook immediately after thawing. Always be sure to cook the meat to the proper temperature.For more information on proper food handling, read these USDA Food Safety Fact Sheets.
