Recreational Water Illness

August 6, 2008

If you are visiting the beach or the swimming pool this summer season, play it safe with good personal hygiene to help prevent the spread of recreational water illnesses (RWI). What are RWI, how are they spread, and how can you protect yourself? Learn more about water safety, the bacteria and viruses lurking in shared water spaces and download tips on preventing water related illnesses: Recreational Water Illness

Summer Safety Tips

June 21, 2008

School is out and summer is here!

Children are headed to camp, are off to the pool and beach to swim, and will explore the great outdoors during their time off. What can you do to protect them from summer’s elements? Find effective ways to prevent sunburn, bug bites, poison ivy rashes and other environmental hazards by following the tips in our Summer Safety: Avoiding Bugs and Burns brochure.

Decoding Plastic

May 15, 2008

There has been a lot talk in the news lately about the safety of different types of plastics, what does it all mean? To learn more about what plastic is made of, what the numbers on the bottom stand for, and current findings concerning their safety download our Decoding Plastic brochure.

Vitamin D

April 2, 2008

Have you had your daily dose of the “sunshine vitamin”?

Vitamin D, a hot topic in the news and research, is an important component of bone health, autoimmune disease regulation, and reduced cancer risk. But how much is enough, and how do you get vitamin D through diet and lifestyle habits?

Download Vitamin D, the Sunshine Vitaminto learn more about Vitamin D’s attributes, food sources, and how much you should be getting each day.

Cited: References

Norovirus Infection in Home and Community Settings

February 24, 2008

Noroviruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the industrialized world and it is estimated that they are responsible for some 23 million infections each year in the United States. First recognized in 1972, the virus has undergone several name changes since it was first identified as the cause of an elementary school “stomach flu” outbreak in Norwalk, OH.

Symptoms include severe vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, fever, aching and tiredness. Most people recover without complication but as with other gastrointestinal infections, the young, the elderly and the immunocompromised are at higher risk from complications of dehydration.

Home and community settings, including hospitals, are the common location for norovirus outbreaks although outbreaks in the home are underreported and under recognized. Person-to-person spread, either directly or via contaminated surfaces and contaminated food are the main routes of transmission of norovirus and therefore, prevention is based on effective hygiene practices, including hand hygiene, surface sanitation and food safety.

For more information about preventing norovirus contamination and infection: Norovirus Infection in Home and Community Settings Brochure

Toy Safety and Hygiene

December 6, 2007

Play it Safe this Holiday Season!

The holidays are approaching and brings parties, family, friends, gift giving and, if you are a child, toys!

You may have recently heard in the news about toy recalls regarding specific types of toys and safety hazards concerning materials used to create and decorate them. It’s important to make sure that any toy offered to a child is free from toxins that can cause them harm. All toys have age appropriate levels, too.

Follow the guidelines offered in our brochure to help ensure a safe and happy season for all of the young ones on your list. Toy Safety and Hygiene Brochure

Food Safety During the Holidays

November 2, 2007

Most holiday gatherings would not be complete without that special food or recipe that only comes around once a year. Even though you may know the instructions for that special dish by heart, it’s always important to pay attention to food safety while preparing the recipe. Keep your celebration safe by following the tips in our Holiday Food Safety brochure.

Back to School Nutrition Tips for College Students

November 1, 2007

Most college students are pressed for time, under a lot of stress, and can find themselves eating on the go. A healthy diet can help you feel better and cope well with stress, putting you on the right track for a successful semester! Download our Back to School Nutrition Tips for some helpful nutrition guidance.

International Infection Prevention Week: It’s in Your Hands

October 14-20, 2007 is International Infection Prevention Week and this year the focus is on hand hygiene. Hand washing is a key component in reducing the risk of a number of infections including flu, the common cold, foodborne infections, and skin and eye infections. We’ve created a useful brochure which makes it easy to understand and implement good hand washing practices in your daily routine. Download our brochure here: Handwashing Tips

You can also view a hand washing demonstration by following this link: Handwashing Demonstration

Back to Campus Hygiene Tips

September 27, 2007

Starting college, a new semester, or returning to school after a hiatus can effect not only your mental health but your physical health as well.

Practicing good personal hygiene can go a long way to prevent yourself from becoming ill during what can often be a stressful time. Learn what good personal hygiene is all about in our Back to Campus Hygiene Tips brochure.

Back to Campus Hygiene Tips

Wilderness Hygiene and Health Tips

August 15, 2007

If you are visiting the great outdoors this season, hygiene is more than just needing a long hot shower after a few days in the woods. Your health and personal comfort, the health of fellow campers and backpackers and the wellbeing of the wilderness environment itself are all at stake as well. Good hygiene practices can reduce the spread of disease.

Campers, day hikers, and backpackers need to be cautious about bacteria, viruses and other pathogens which can be kept at bay through personal hygiene practices and environmental cleanliness. Getting ill can spoil your camping or backpacking experience, so stay healthy and have fun! Download our helpful guidelines to have a safe and happy time while exploring the great outdoors.

Camping and Backpacking Hygiene and Health Tips Brochure

Safe Summer Barbecues

July 13, 2007

Cooking outdoors has become a year round practice in America and barbecuing is even more popular during the summer time. But the warm summer temperatures are ideal for bacteria and other pathogens & allow them to multiply and cause foodborne illness. There are three important areas to consider regarding food safety when planning a BBQ or just grilling in the back yard:

Personal hygiene Transportation and storage of food Food Preparation

Grill up some safe and delicious food by following the tips highlighted in our new pamphlet, which you can download here: Food Safety and the BBQ

Tips for Staying Healthy While Traveling Abroad

June 7, 2007

The ready availability of inexpensive flights has enabled people to travel and explore many areas of the globe; however, this luxury is not without its risks. The risk of becoming sick while traveling abroad often depends on two important factors:

Making adequate pre-departure preparations Taking safety precautions while traveling

Play it safe by following the tips highlighted in our new pamphlet, which you can download here: Tips for Staying Healthy While Traveling Abroad