The summer holidays are times families and friends gather to
celebrate and eat al fresco together. Let’s make it a good time, and not time
spend in the bathroom all afternoon or night long. US Media Studios also shares what
to do if you are hit with a bout of food poisoning.
Food poisoning can happen at any time and any place, even at
Aunt B’s famous Memorial Day cookout. Below are some common sense prevention
tips so we can have a great summer:
Avoid food that smells “off”. This can mean grilled chicken
or hamburgers. One bite and most people know when the meat or poultry is not
safe to eat. Don’t swallow the bad bite, but spit it out in a napkin. Kindly
let the hosts know. Wash the taste from the mouth with a beverage.
Avoid foods made with milk or mayonnaise and which have been
left outside or on the counter and not in a cold pack. Essentially, all
prepared food should be kept in cold picnic containers until ready to eat.
If a bout of food poisoning should occur, it can happen a
few hours, days or even weeks after ingesting affected food. It feels like one
minute you are feeling fine and the next you are sitting on the bathroom floor
worshipping the porcelain god.
Symptoms can include: feeling bloated, extreme abdominal
pain, nausea and vomiting, cramps, watery diarrhea and fever. After the wave of
these symptoms subsides, US Media Studios suggests drinking water slowly to
flush out the bacteria. Ginger ale sipped slowly can also ease nausea. Sports
drinks can replace lost calcium and electrolytes. Eat bland food slowly for a
day or two until you feel stronger and not so shaky.
It’s okay to enjoy the homemade goodies family and friends
bring to picnics, cookouts and parties. Just be sure they are stored correctly,
and if heating or cooking is needed, that it is done thoroughly.
