Cass Regional Medical Center | Wellness Matters | Summer 2018

Wellness Matters | Summer 2018 5 7 Keep food safe. Food poisoning can happen more easily in the summer because higher temps can make foodborne bacteria grow quickly. To help prevent foodborne illness, especially during picnics and cookouts: w w Never eat food that’s been left out for longer than two hours—or longer than one hour on 90-degree days. w w Place picnic perishables in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. Keeping foods at 40 degrees or below prevents bacterial growth. w w Don’t spread germs. When grilling, use separate utensils and dishes for raw and cooked foods. w w Clean fresh fruits and veggies with running tap water before putting them in the cooler or before eating. This includes produce with skin or rinds you don’t eat, like melons or mangoes. w w Remind everyone to wash their hands before and after handling food. Beware of bugs. Some mosquitoes and ticks can spread serious diseases like West Nile virus, Zika virus or Lyme disease. Take these precautions if you live in or travel to areas with bug-borne illnesses: w w Prevent mosquito and tick bites by using an insect repellent on your skin that contains DEET. But treat outdoor gear and clothing with insect repellent that contains permethrin. Always read the label to make sure you use all insect repellents correctly. w w Skip the shorts. Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts whenever possible. w w After hiking, check your clothes, hair and skin for ticks. Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; American College of Emergency Physicians; American Red Cross; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Food and Drug Administration 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pack sunscreen. Sunburned skin hurts, and it increases the risk of cancer. So before you head outside, grab some sunscreen and apply it to exposed skin. Use sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection and a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Reapply every two hours or sooner if you swim or sweat. Kids older than 6 months need sunscreen too (read the label to apply it safely). And everyone—especially babies—should stay in the shade whenever possible. No helmet, no ride. Summer is a great time for the whole family to go bike riding. But it’s important that everyone wears a helmet—including Mom and Dad. This simple step can help prevent devastating head injuries. Some kids love to wear helmets. Others not so much. But parents should insist on them, no matter how short the ride or how strong the protest. Kids may be less likely to resist wearing a helmet if they can pick one they like. Watch kids around water. Never take your eyes off little ones near water—not even for a minute. Kids can drown in the time it takes you to answer a text message or engage in some other brief distraction. Don’t swim alone. No one should swim alone, including adults. Remember that kids need close supervision even at public pools where lifeguards are on duty. Wear a life jacket while boating. Drowning is the cause of most boating-related deaths. Nurse practitioner joins clinic Cass Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome family nurse practitioner Lisa Everhart, BSN, MSN, FNP-BC, to its clinical staff. Everhart received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Missouri. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Everhart sees patients at Harrisonville Medical Clinic, and works in collaboration with Samuel Brewster, MD. To make an appointment with Everhart for family practice services at Harrisonville Medical Clinic, call 816-380-7470 . Lisa Everhart, BSN, MSN, FNP-BC