SHIFT your routine on hotter Summer days

It's going to be a hot one today, with temps in the 90s. It's important to get physical activity each day, even in the heat, so here are a couple tips on how to SHIFT your workout so you can still stay active safely.

Sunscreen – Wear sunscreen to protect you from damaging UV rays. Sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer and decrease your body’s ability to cool off.

Hydration – Keep the water bottle handy! Staying hydrated helps you sweat and cool down. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water.

Information – Know your medical risks, like conditions or medications that can increase risk of heat-related illness, and know your physical fitness level. Ask your doctor if you need to take it easier in the heat or take any additional precautions. 

Flexibility – Change up your exercise routine! Go to a gym, walk laps or climb stairs in an air conditioned building or take an indoor fitness class in your community, like those in the City of Lakewood listed here.

Timing – Mornings and evenings are cooler than the middle of the day, so choose these times to get outside. If possible, shady areas and pools are a good alternative to sunny (AKA HOT) areas.

Seat Belts Save Lives!

Recent heart wrenching tragedies in the Denver Metropolitan area have involved traffic accidents in which drivers and/or passengers have not been wearing seat belts. Jefferson County Public Health reminds everyone that regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to prevent serious injuries and save people from dying in motor vehicle crashes.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in 2014, 156 people who weren’t buckled up lost their lives in traffic crashes on Colorado roadways. If everyone had buckled up, nearly half of the victims would have lived. Please everyone, Buckle UP!


For more information on the importance of seat belts and for children, the appropriate child safety restraint type, please visit the Colorado Department of Transportation. CDOT develops and manages initiatives aimed at preventing accidents and injuries. These include campaigns to reduce alcohol & impaired Driving, increase seat belt and car seat usage, motorcycle safety, teen drivers, and improving Colorado's Road Health Summit

Public Health Encourages Participation in International Walk to School Day

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) encourages parents and children around the county to join in a country-wide effort to celebrate International Walk to School Day on October 7, 2015. This fun walking or biking event promotes safe routes to school and emphasizes the physical, mental and environmental health benefits of walking or bicycling to school.

The event works by getting teams at schools to organize walking school buses and bike trains that promote and facilitate walking and bicycling to school. The teams work with local officials, parents, and school children to map safer routes to school by painting cross walks, removing debris from sidewalks, and having adults accompany groups of children on their journey to and from school. The program also includes bicycle and pedestrian safety education to teach children the skills they need to stay safe around traffic.

Walking or bicycling to and from school can be a first step to changing community culture and creating environments that are more inviting for everyone, young and old. Here are some reasons to support walking and bicycling to school:

• Enhance the health of kids. Increased physical activity can combat a host of health problems facing kids today.
  
• Improve air quality. Replacing car trips to school with walking or bicycling can help reduce air pollution.
  
• Create safer routes for walking and bicycling. Sidewalks, education programs and traffic calming measures are some of the ways to improve conditions for young students.

Information on Walk to School Day is also available at www.walkbiketoschool.org.

Protect against Rabies

Monday, September 28, 2013 is World Rabies Day.  Rabies is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal if left untreated.  By keeping your pets vaccinated against rabies, you are not only protecting them, but you are protecting yourself and your family too.  Show your pets how much you love them by honoring September 28^th and getting them vaccinated. The Foothills Animal Shelter offers rabies vaccinations for your dog or cat for only $15.  Vaccines can be given during an appointment, or the shelter offers walk-in hours on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3 to 4pm. Please visit their website or call 303-278-7575 for more information.  

The JCPH animal-borne disease program works to monitor and respond to disease threats in the county, as well as monitor any positive rabies tests from animals such as bats. It is important for everyone to take precautions against rabies exposure. While only a small percentage of bats are infected with rabies,  it is important to avoid close contact with them.  The public should contact their local animal control if they find a dead bat or if they find a bat behaving strangely. Animal control will determine whether the bat needs to be collected and tested.  Animal Control will collect specimens for rabies testing if there is a possibility that the bat had contact with people or their pets--particularly within the home or other enclosed buildings.

 Jefferson County Health officials advise that even what may seem as insignificant contact with a bat may still be sufficient to transmit the rabies virus. Rabies is spread most often through contact with bat saliva, as a result of bites or from exposure to cuts on the skin. In some instances, people may be unaware that they were bitten and may not see puncture wounds. 

Steps to Prevent Rabies:

• Residents are urged not to handle wild animals and to beware of any bats or skunks seen during day light hours. Bats that are active during the day (seen in places where bats are not usually seen, i.e. indoors, on the lawn) or any bat that is unable to fly should be considered possibly rabid and reported to the appropriate animal control agency.
• Pet owners should be sure their pets have current immunizations for rabies and keep their pets from roaming free. Vaccination is essential to protecting pets and preventing further spread of the disease.
• Wash any wound from an animal thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
• Have all dead, sick, or captured bats/skunks tested for rabies if exposure to people or pets is suspected.
• Keep wild animals from entering homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might contact people and pets. Seal up holes that might allow bats into your living quarters. Any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch should be caulked. Use window screens, chimney caps, and draft-guards beneath doors to attics, fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking, and ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly.

Resources:

·         For more information or to report a suspicious animal, please contact your local Animal Control agency or Jefferson County Animal Control at 303-271-5070

·         For more information on rabies and prevention tips please visit our Animal-Borne Disease Rabies page, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rabies page,  or call the JCPH Animal-Borne Disease Program at at 303-271-5700.

September is Food Safety Month . . .

Meet the new JCPH Food Safety Program Manager, Mindi Ramig

Mindi Ramig has enjoyed a varied career with Jefferson County Public Health for nearly 30 years. She finds it especially rewarding to work collaboratively with the retail food industry and the public to improve food safety practices. Mindy is also excited to be working with an excellent group of professionals at JCPH who are committed to ensuring safe food practices across the county. Mindi wishes everyone (the industry and the public) would make maintaining proper food temperatures at all times and using good personal hygienic practices, such as frequent and proper hand washing, a priority to help minimize food borne illness in the county.

Excellence in Food Safety Class

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) offers its next Excellence in Food Safety Class (EFS) on November 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Over 9,000 food handlers from hundreds of Jefferson County restaurants, schools, and grocery stores have taken the class since its inception in 1993. Everyone has a role in food safety. Sign up for a class and learn how to improve food handling and preparation techniques.

To sign up for a class, contact Jefferson County Public Health at 303-271-5700 or view our web page or download the Excellence in Food Safety brochure. A convenient online class is also available in 5 languages at www.jeffco.statefoodsafety.com.

Think Toy Safety

Picking the perfect toy for that special child in your life can be fun. Knowing that the toy is safe and won’t cause a tragic injury is priceless. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent federal regulatory agency created to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with some 15,000 types of consumer products, including toys. Choking on small parts, small balls and balloons remains a leading cause of toy-related deaths and injuries. Here are some tips to help you with your toy selection:

Think Toy Safety

• Think about toy safety when shopping for the holidays. Buy toys that are right for the child's age, interests and skill levels.
• Look for labels to help you judge which toys might not be safe, especially for infants and children under age three. The law bans small parts in toys for children under three and requires an explicit, prominent warning label on toys with small parts for children between the ages of three and six. In addition, balls with a diameter smaller than 1.75 inches are banned for children under three years old. 

Resources

• Download JCPH Toy safety flyer
• View toy recalls and other safety issues from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Think Toy Safety or http://www.cpsc.gov

Eyes and Thoughts on the Road Please

Jefferson County Public Health reminds everyone to stay safe while driving this holiday season. That means, among other things, finding a designated driver if you plan on drinking any alcohol while out and about; using your seatbelt and having your children properly restrained in age-appropriate car seats or boosters; and, it means, not using your cell phone while driving. Here are some tips from the National Safety Council on cell-free driving.


Before you drive

• Develop a habit of turning off your cell phone when you get in your vehicle, and turning it back on when you are done driving. If you can’t turn your phone off, put it on vibrate or silent mode. 

• Put your cell phone in your trunk to avoid temptation.
  
• Record a voicemail greeting telling callers it is not safe to make calls while driving, and you will return their call as soon as you are able.
  
• If you spend a lot of time on the road, organize your route and schedule to allow time to make and return phone calls from the parking lot of one location before leaving to drive to the next one. This strategy has helped employees who drive frequently to maintain productivity and accessibility.

While you drive

• Do not make or answer cell phone calls, even with hands-free devices. If you must make an emergency call, leave the road and park in a safe area.
  
• Do not send or read text messages or email.
  
• If you are driving with a passenger, allow them to operate the phone.
  
• Let someone else drive so that you can freely make or receive calls.

For more information on safe driving and injury prevention in general, visit the Jefferson County Public Health website.

Keeping Your Baby Safe at Bedtime

As a parent, you are in charge of your baby’s health and safety. Jefferson County Public Health reminds all parents and caregivers that sleep time for baby should be no exception. As tempting as it might be to share a bed and snuggle with your baby, the truth is, it is not safe and could be life threatening. The risk of suffocation is real. Never share a bed or sleeping space with an infant. Protect your baby by making sure that anyone else who might be putting the baby down for sleep, including grandparents and other family members, understands the importance of a safe sleep environment and follows these few steps.

Create a safe sleep environment for infants. This will reduce risk of suffocation, as well as sudden unexplained infant death syndrome (SUIDS).
remove all items from the crib, including crib bumpers, blankets and toys.
Be sure to place infants on their backs to sleep and keep them warm by using a simple sleep sack or one-piece sleep wear.

Some parents and caregivers feel more comfortable having the infant sleep in the same room, and that’s ok! Place your baby in a portable sleeping crib or bassinette next to your bed.

To learn more about keeping your baby safe at bedtime, please watch the Jefferson County Public Health safe sleep video or download our brochure.

Excellence in Food Safety Class Celebrates 20 Years

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of its Excellence in Food Safety Class (EFS) on September 10th, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. during the Food Safety Forum, which is held each month at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The celebration offers an opportunity to thank the many individuals, food safety operators and food handlers who have made food safety their mission during National Food Safety Education Month this September 2013.

The Excellence in Food Safety (EFS) Class was developed in 1993 by dedicated staff in the Jefferson County Public Health Food Safety Program and an enthusiastic group of local restaurant owners and operators. The EFS class was one of the first in the state provided by a local health department.

Dave Hooker, supervisor of the JCPH Food Safety Program explains, “Several food handlers from the Lakewood Country Club attended the first class. Since then over 9,000 food handlers from hundreds of Jefferson County restaurants, schools, and grocery stores have taken the class and improved their food handling and preparation techniques.”

The decision to develop a classroom style food safety class was triggered by several foodborne illness incidents that occurred in the early 1990s and raised awareness nationwide of the importance of food safety. These included the 1993 Jack in the Box E coli 0157:H7 outbreak and the 1993 Milwaukee outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis associated with water.

Today’s EFS Classes continue to be current and cover the latest in food safety information in addition to any updates in the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules & Regulations. Students are able to participate in hand washing demonstrations, pop quizzes, and a final quiz to test their food safety knowledge. The cost of the class hasn’t changed much in twenty years. It is only $10.00. “We want to keep the cost low so that as many food handlers as possible can attend”, said Dave Hooker.

To sign up for a class, contact Jefferson County Public Health at 303-271-5700 or view our web page and download the class brochure. A convenient online class is also available in 5 languages at www.jeffco.statefoodsafety.com.

It is Hot Outside! Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. Stay Informed.

As summer temperatures rise, so do the risks of heat related illnesses. Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion often begin suddenly, and may include: Feeling faint or dizzy, nausea, heavy sweating, rapid, weak heartbeat, low blood pressure, cool, moist, pale skin, low-grade fever, heat cramps, headache, fatigue, dark-colored urine. See these tips on preventing heat related illness from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and have a safe and cool summer.  

Elderly people (65 years and older) and Infants and young children are more prone to the effects of extreme heat. Take precautions:

• Never leave anyone in a closed parked vehicle. Never leave infants or children in a vehicle, even if the windows are open.
• Never leave pets in a parked car - they can suffer heat-related illness too.
• Drink plenty of water
• Dress infants and children in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Call 911 or emergency medical help if fainting, confusion or seizures occur, or if fever of 104 F or greater occurs with other symptoms. 

More information:
                >Heat and the elderly: http://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat/seniors.html

                >Heat and children: http://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat/children.html

                >Download CDC brochure

National Home Safety Month

Every year, the National Safety Council pegs June as National Home Safety Month. This year’s theme, “Safety Starts with Me,” is a reminder to educate yourself and your family about preventable injuries around your home. Jefferson County Public Health’s Injury Prevention program has information on safe sleep and car seats for your child, preventing elderly falls, and teen driving.

For more information about preventing injuries in your home and community, please contact Myria Normann at 303-239-7067.

Egg Safety

With the arrival of spring, many Jefferson County residents will celebrate by decorating eggs for Easter. Jefferson County Public Health asks that you keep these safety tips in mind when coloring your eggs:

Before decorating, decide whether or not you want to eat the decorated eggs later. If you do, follow these rules:

• Wash your hands between all the steps. 
• Be sure that all the materials you use are food safe. 
• Keep the eggs refrigerated as much as possible. 
• Dye the eggs in water warmer than the eggs so the insides don’t absorb the dye. 
• If you hide the decorated eggs, avoid contact with animals or lawn chemicals. 
• Throw out any “found” eggs that have cracked or have been out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. 
• Eat the refrigerated eggs within one week. 

Fresh eggs must be purchased, handled, prepared and stored carefully to avoid the possibility of foodborne illness. Even eggs with clean, un-cracked shells may contain bacteria called Salmonella. 

• Buy eggs only sold from a refrigerated case. 
• Make sure that the eggs are not cracked. 
• Refrigerate at 40ºF or below. 
• Wash hands, utensils, equipment, and work surfaces with hot, soapy water. 
• Cook eggs until the yolk and the white are firm. Scrambled eggs should not be runny. 
• Cook egg dishes until they reach 160°F. Use a food thermometer to be sure. 

Please see our Egg Safety fact sheet for more information or click here for information from Fight BAC, the Partnership for Food Safety Education.

Attention: Jefferson County Food Service Establishments

Revisions to the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations will take effect March 1, 2013. To ensure operators are familiar with the revisions, the Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability has worked in collaboration with State Food Safety to develop an online training of the major changes to the revised Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations. This training is available for a fee of $2.50 for any retail food operator or food handling employee that wishes to take the course. For more information view the JCPH food safety web page.

In addition the JCPH Excellence in Food Safety Program celebrates its 20th anniversary this year! Consider taking a class on safe food handling and preparation.

Keeping Your Food Safe in Jefferson County

Did you know that Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) offers food handling classes and has created a food forum to help prevent foodborne illness in Jefferson County?

Excellence in Food Safety is a training class designed to reduce the risk of foodborne illness and unsafe food handling practices. The class is specifically developed for food service personnel, but anyone interested in food safety is encouraged to attend. Please see our brochure for more information.

The Food Safety Forum is a group of food service operators, consumers and JCPH food program staff who meet once a year to collaborate and develop innovative strategies to reduce the risk factors associated with foodborne illness. The next Food Safety Forum meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2013. If you would like to attend, please contact Matthew Garcia at msgarcia@jeffco.us or 303-271-5762.Check out www.jeffco.us/health for more information on our food safety programs.

Keep Children Safe This Holiday Season

Picking the perfect toy for that special child in your life can be fun. Knowing that the toy is safe and won’t cause a tragic injury is priceless.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent federal regulatory agency created to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with some 15,000 types of consumer products, including toys.

Choking on small parts, small balls and balloons remains a leading cause of toy-related deaths and injuries. Here are some tips to help you with your toy selection:

• To prevent injuries, choose toys that are safe for the age of the child.

• Look for labels to help you judge which toys might not be safe, especially for infants and children under age three. The law bans small parts in toys for children under three and requires an explicit, prominent warning label on toys with small parts for children between the ages of three and six. In addition, balls with a diameter smaller than 1.75 inches are banned for children under three years old.

• For children of all ages, consider if the toys are suited to their skills and abilities. 

For more information, download the JCPH Toy safety flyer.

Holiday Food Safety

The holidays are quickly approaching. The scent of turkey, ham, stuffing, and pumpkin pie will fill many homes in Jefferson County!  While creating delectable creations for your dining table, please keep a few of these food safety tips in mind:

• Thawing turkeys must be kept at a safe temperature. Get the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation on how to thaw your turkey!
• Bacteria present on raw poultry can contaminate your hands, utensils, and work surfaces as you prepare the turkey.
• For optimal safety, cook the stuffing outside the turkey in a casserole dish.

For more information on thawing, storing, and cooking your holiday meals, please click here.  

Emergency Preparedness Month

Throughout the month of September, everyone is encouraged to focus on individual and family preparedness at home, at work, and at school. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there are some things that you can do to make sure you are prepared in case of an emergency situation.

·         Be Informed- Know what to do before, after and during an emergency.

·         Make a plan- Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance.

·         Build a kit- Find recommended items here.

·         Get involved- Find opportunities to support community preparedness.

 Jefferson County Public Health believes that healthy communities are resilient communities and continues to encourage citizens to get plenty of exercise, eat healthy foods and stay up to date with immunizations and health screenings. Get more information about how you and your family can be prepared with the JCPH’s Plan to be Safe.

Food Safety

For many, September means last minute BBQs, busy schedules and back to school.  As you celebrate the end of summer, keep in mind that September is National Food Safety and Education Month.  Inadequate or improper food handling, preparation or food storage can make you, your family and guests sick.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48 million Americans get sick from foodborne diseases each year.  3,000 of them will die.

So, enjoy your end of summer celebration, but remember to be safe!  Click here to see JCPH’s recommendations on how to handle, prepare and store food properly.

If you are sending the kids off to school with packed lunches, click here to find quick tips to packing a safe lunch!

Don’t forget, practice proper food handling, preparation and storage techniques.

·         Wash hands and surfaces often.

·         Be especially careful not to cross-contaminate foods.

·         Cook to proper temperatures.

·         Chill or store foods properly.

This chart from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the causes of illness in 1,565 single food commodity outbreaks, 2003–2008

For more information, please visit the JCPH food safety page, The United States Department of Agriculture food page or call our Food Safety Program at 303-271-5700.

It’s Turkey Time . . . Prevent Foodborne Illness this Holiday Season

Whether you are cooking for yourself, your family or a whole bunch of people, it is important to be aware of safety issues when thawing, preparing, stuffing and cooking your turkey. A few simple steps can help keep foodborne illness off the menu this Thanksgiving.
Safe Thawing -Thawing turkeys must be kept out of the "danger zone" temperature (between 40 and 140°F) — this is the temperature range where foodborne bacteria multiply rapidly. See"Safe Methods for Thawing;" (Spanish)
Safe Preparation-Bacteria present on raw poultry can contaminate your hands, utensils, and work surfaces as you prepare the turkey. After working with raw poultry, always wash your hands, utensils, and work surfaces before they touch other foods.
Safe Stuffing-Bacteria can survive in stuffing that has not reached 165°F, possibly resulting in foodborne illness. Follow these steps to safely prepare, cook, remove, and refrigerate stuffing; Spanish language instructions.
Safe Cooking-Set the oven temperature no lower than 325°F and be sure the turkey is completely thawed. Cooking times will vary. The food thermometer must reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F. For more information on safe internal temperatures, visit FoodSafety.gov's Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures

• Download JCPH turkey time handout
• View JCPH Food Safety page

Getting to Know an Environmental Health Specialist...

With all of the disease outbreaks from spinach to sprouts, how do we know if the food served in Jefferson County is safe? Seems like a big job, and, it is! Inspectors in Jefferson County conduct over 4,600 inspections of over 1800 food service establishments.

We inspect all kinds of food service establishments; from full service restaurants to school cafeterias, grocery stores, and even the hot dog cart at a neighborhood festival.

There is variety no doubt about that, no day is ever the same. As we walk into a restaurant unannounced, we become food detectives and our skills of observation and surveillance kick into gear. Each inspection is a “snap shot” in time. We have to learn a lot about a restaurant in just two or three visits a year.

So how you may ask do we know what goes on the other days of the year?

We look for clues about how food is handled when we’re not there. We ask how they prepare items on their menu, collect information like food temperatures and we ask a lot of questions. We watch how food handlers prepare and cook food, wash hands and dishes. And of course we document any areas that need correcting.

To do your own detective work, look up your favorite restaurant inspection by going to our web site at http://health.jeffco.us/.