How do you make sure you don’t get sick this summer?

Prevent food poisoning at barbecue

Grilling is a popular summer activity, but it can also be a source of food poisoning. Here are some steps to grill safely:

• Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces and utensils: Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. Make sure to clean hands well and all surfaces that come into contact with raw meat.
• Prevent cross-contamination: Separate raw meat from prepared foods. Use separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked meat.
• Cook meat well: Make sure meat products are cooked well to kill any harmful bacteria.
• Be careful with Toxoplasma: This parasite can cause severe food poisoning and is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Wear gloves when gardening and wash fruits and vegetables well.

Safe swimming

Swimming is a great way to cool down, but the water can also contain pathogens. Here are some tips for swimming safely:

• Avoid swallowing water: Swimming pools, water parks, and fountains can contain viruses such as norovirus and bacteria such as E. coli. Try not to swallow water and swim only in well-maintained facilities.
• Protect your ears: Bacteria in water can cause a painful ear infection known as swimmer’s ear. Wear earplugs to prevent this.
• Be careful with open wounds: If you have an open wound, piercing, or tattoo, use waterproof bandages to prevent infection.

Safe on the road

Hiking and camping are popular summer activities, but they also come with risks. Here are some tips to stay safe:

• Drink safe water: Do not drink water from natural sources without boiling or filtering it first to avoid bacteria and parasites.
• Protect yourself from insects: Ticks and mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and West Nile virus. Use insect repellent and wear protective clothing.
• Check for ticks: After a day outside, check your body and scalp for ticks. Remove ticks immediately to reduce the risk of disease.