Hot weather and flooding? Salmonella could be in the forecast

When you think of salmonella risks, food preparation is probably the first thing that comes to mind. But a recent study shows that salmonella is also associated with heat and flooding — and that it could become worse with climate change.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, found that salmonella infections in people rise on hotter and wetter days in coastal Maryland. People living on the coast have more contact with water and are at a greater risk for floods, which can contain harmful bacteria.

The researchers aren’t sure why there is more salmonella in the coastal area. One factor for the increased infections in Maryland may be the state’s link to the poultry industry — the state produces 300 million broiler chickens every year on its Eastern shore. Waste from poultry operations may contaminate nearby water supplies, the researchers said, including wells people depend on for drinking water. Other studies have suggested that warmer days could be leading to changes in eating habits, such as more people eating improperly cooked food from the grill.

Whatever the cause, salmonella infections are something you don’t want. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps. Usually, symptoms last between four and seven days. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which can send you to the hospital.

Luckily, consumers can take steps in their food preparation to help prevent getting sick from the most likely causes of salmonella illness. Some tips:

• Cook eggs, poultry and ground beef all the way through at a high temperature.
• Don’t eat raw meat or eggs or drink unpasteurized milk.
• Wash your hands, utensils and countertops after handling raw meat or eggs.
• Be extra-careful with food for infants, the elderly and people who are already sick.
• Wash your hands after handling pets, birds, reptiles or animal feces.

Climate change is expected to cause more heat waves, storms and flooding, so consumers will have to prepare for new risks as well.


Join our Get Ready Day Google+ Hangout on Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. EDT. Our expert speakers will share their perspectives about climate change and speak specifically about wildfires, flooding, and vector-borne diseases.  Learn how you can prepare and reduce the risk of harm.

USDA declares biggest natural disaster in history

Did you know we’re in the middle of the largest natural disaster in U.S. history?

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared that more than 1,000 U.S. counties are federal disaster areas. That’s more than 50 percent of U.S. territory.

The cause? A major drought that’s affecting at least 26 states. Droughts occur when an extended period of dry weather causes water shortages and sometimes damages crops.

The American Red Cross has a list of steps you can take to prepare for a drought.

During a drought, local officials may announce restrictions on water usage, such as not watering your lawn or washing your car. Check with your local government or water company to find the latest information.  

Is your area affected by the drought? Do you have any advice for coping with water restrictions? Share your stories in the comments below!

Summer Safe: Learn how to get ready for a wildfire

Did you catch the news this week about the wildfires that have burned thousands of acres in Colorado and New Mexico?

Unfortunately, with the hot, dry weather that often comes this time of year, wildfires are more common. Plus, this week scientists reported that because of climate change, an increase in wildfires is expected over the next 30 years. That’s why we thought now would be a good time to talk about getting ready for wildfires.

Wildfires can start from natural causes like lightning, but most are caused by humans, such as when people leave campfires unattended or don’t dispose of burning cigarettes safely. (Learn more about fire prevention here: http://www.smokeybear.com/wildfires.asp). However it starts, a wildfire can spread quickly, burning forests and buildings in its path. Aside from the dangers of the actual fire, wildfires are also a health threat because of their heavy smoke, which can cause headaches, breathing trouble and chest pain and can cause extra health complications. 

Here are some quick steps you can take to prepare for wildfires:

• Find out about your community’s risk for wildfires. Check to see if there is a local wildfire warning system and know the evacuation routes.
• If you live in an area at risk for wildfires, make sure your property is safe: Clean your roof, gutters and property of dried leaves regularly. Move things that will burn, like gas tanks or stacks of firewood, away from your house. Have fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in your home, and check them regularly.
• Have an emergency kit, ideally in a bag or container that you can grab and take with you in case of evacuation.
• Make a plan with your loved ones, so that if you need to evacuate quickly, you’ll know where to go. Don’t forget to pick an out-of-town emergency contact who everyone can check in with, in case local phone lines are busy.
• If you see a wildfire, call 9-1-1 immediately.
• If you are in a car and see a wildfire, stay in the car, roll up the windows and close the vents. Drive slowly and keep your lights on. (Check out our Driving & Disasters Fact Sheet for more info ).
• If you are home, close all doors and windows and take care not to breathe in smoke. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately.

For more information about preparing for wildfires, check out our Get Ready Fact Sheet on Wildfires, in English and Spanish. You can also visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website for more information about what to do before, during and after a wildfire.

Summer Safe: Tips for staying healthy in hot weather

With record-setting warm weather across the U.S. this year, we wanted to kick off our Summer Safe series with some timely information about beating the summer heat.

To get the scoop about hot weather safety, we sat down with Linda Degutis, DrPH, MSN. Degutis is the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and she had a lot of advice about heat-related illnesses.

Though many people want to have ‘fun in the sun’ during the summer months, really hot weather can pose a dangerous threat to people’s health. As Degutis explained, “extreme heat can lead people to have very high body temperatures,” which could quickly lead to brain damage, organ failure or even death.

Degutis, a past president of APHA, warned about the two heat-related illnesses people should avoid in hot weather: heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Heat stroke is more serious, because your body can lose its ability to cool itself down and your body temperature can get dangerously high.

These are the symptoms you should look out for (click to view larger):

The people who are most at risk for heat-related illness are the elderly, young children and people with chronic medical conditions. Also, people who spend a lot of time out-of-doors, such as construction workers and landscapers, the homeless and those who exercise in the heat are at risk for the dangerous side effects of spending too much time in hot weather.

That’s the bad news. “The good thing about all of this is that we can prevent heat-related illnesses by taking some relatively simple precautions,” Degutis explained.
These include:

• During very hot weather, stay inside where it’s cool. If you don’t have air-conditioning in your house, go somewhere that does: A library, a grocery store, an indoor mall. Communities may also set up cooling centers where people can escape the heat, so check with your local government. 

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Alcoholic beverages and sugary drinks like soda and juice can make you more thirsty, so stay away from those as much as possible in the heat.

• You can still stay active and enjoy the outdoors, but consider saving your exercise or outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day: morning and evening. Avoid being outside in the middle of the day when it’s hottest.

• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, because dark clothes or heavy fabric can trap heat. Also, make sure you wear a hat and sunscreen — sunburns put you at higher risk for heat-related illnesses!

• Sign up for free weather alerts via email or text, so that you’ll know if there is an excessive heat warning for your area.

• Don’t forget to check on friends, older family members and elderly neighbors in very hot weather.

For more information about staying safe in hot weather, you can listen to the podcast of our interview with Degutis. We also have a full transcript of the interview, and we created a handy Healthy You tipsheet about staying safe in the heat that you can print and share.

Get ready for warm weather with our new Summer Safe series!

 
We know it’s not officially summer yet, but the unseasonably warm weather in much of the country has us thinking warm thoughts. And because we’re always thinking about how we can help you be prepared and stay safe, we’re starting a new series of posts on our blog called Summer Safe.

What kind of topics will we cover in our Summer Safe series? Here’s a preview:

• How to stay safe in hot weather.
• Protecting yourself from tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses.
• Tips for staying safe on vacations.
• Information to help you prepare for severe summer weather, including hurricane preparedness.

Do you have any other ideas or burning questions about summer safety and preparedness? Let us know in the comments, or send us a tweet @GetReady!