Evelyne McFeaters
202.872.8110
HAVE A HEALTHY SUMMER!
Everyone could use a bit of help to have a healthy summer – whether you're one who enjoys the season from behind the safety of a screened porch, or an outdoor type who enjoys anything under the sun.
BACK YARD BARBEQUES, PICNICS – A FEW REMINDERS
Let's start with typical activities close to home – a backyard barbecue or picnic in the park. With the bustle of kids and food preparation, be alert for potential hazards.
If it's hot, it's hot! – It's helpful to use an aerosol non-stick cooking spray on the barbeque grill to keep foods from sticking – and help with the clean-up later on.
Remember when using this product:
- Never spray on a hot grill
- Never spray over live coals or embers.
- Also, and very important: never set an aerosol can down on or close to hot surfaces. Aerosols are pressurized products and, therefore, as stated on the product label, they should be used and stored away from direct heat.
Learn more about aerosol products at www.AboutAerosols.com .
Pest-free feasting – Protect the yard, patio or deck from unwanted pests for a pleasant, pest-free meal outdoors. Keep your backyard free from biting insects such as mosquitoes, no-see-ums and flies:
• Area repellents, such as lamps and lanterns, coils, foggers and candles help to keep the bugs off and create a zone of comfort outdoors.
• A variety of insecticides are also available to ward off other crawling and flying pests such as gnats, wasps and hornets, ants, ticks and many other lawn and garden insects.
Learn more about health risks from insects at www.AboutBugs.com .
Prevent mosquitoes from breeding:
- Empty buckets, cans, and other containers to prevent water from collecting.
- Cover wading pools and drain off any water that collects on pool covers.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs.
- Change water in bird baths every three days.
- Clear roof gutters and ensure proper drainage.
And speaking of mosquitoes – No matter what's on your summer menu, mosquitoes have one favorite food – a blood meal from you. Prevent mosquito bites by applying an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaradin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Choose the correct product that suits your activity:
- If you plan to be outdoors for more than three hours, especially under conditions that cause heavy mosquito population (lots of shrubbery, after a rain, by the lake), look for a repellent containing more than 20% DEET.
- For shorter periods , repellents containing less than 20% DEET, the repellent currently available with 7% picaridin or one of the products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus, may provide adequate protection.
- Even if you're going out for only 10 minutes, use a repellent – that's long enough to get bitten!
As an extra precaution, wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeve shirt when outdoors.
Read the label:
- Read the product label carefully and follow the label directions printed on all products.
- Adults should always apply repellent on young children, avoiding their hands and around their mouths.
Learn more about repellent protection with DEET at www.DEETONLINE.org .
When foods shouldn't mix
Crisp salad greens and raw meats for grilling are great ingredients for a picnic – as long as they don't mix.
To avoid food-borne diseases such as E. coli and salmonella , take great care in food preparation. In a dishpan of hot water and antimicrobial dish detergent, thoroughly wash and disinfect utensils that you've used in preparing raw foods, such as fish, meats and poultry, before using them on fruits, vegetables and other foods that are consumed fresh. Use separate utensils if possible. Take the same precaution with your hands, especially after handling raw meats: wash and disinfect them thoroughly with warm water and antimicrobial soap.
Antimicrobial products – which include disinfectants, sanitizers and germicides – eliminate or inhibit the growth of microorganisms that are harmful to health.
Learn more about antimicrobials and germs at www.AboutGerms.com .
WHERE ARE THE KIDS?
School's out, and so are the kids. Do you know who they're with, and what they're doing?
A note to parents and baby-sitters: This is not to alarm you, but better to be safe than sorry. Gases in appliances that are actively used in the summer months, such as gas grills and air conditioning units, and other household consumer products that have legitimate uses, are sometimes targeted by kids who deliberately sniff these products to “get high.” This is a harmful and addictive practice, and it can cause sudden death.
Learn more about inhalant abuse prevention and view a public service video co-sponsored by the Alliance for Consumer Education and The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Please visit www.inhalant.org and click on the title “Silence.”
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The Consumer Specialty Products Association is a non-profit national trade association representing approximately 260 companies engaged in the manufacture, formulation, distribution and sale of hundreds of familiar consumer products. It is organized into seven divisions: Aerosol Products, Air Care, Antimicrobial Products, Cleaning Products, Pest Management Products, Industrial & Automotive Specialty Chemicals, and Polishes & Floor Maintenance Products.
