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Alexander Shalamov / featurepics.com
Remember to fully cook meat and keep raw food away from cooked food.
By Dr. Tyeese Gaines
After months of frigid temps, dodging rainstorms and wrapped in warm blankets, Memorial Day is the first holiday to celebrate the start of warmer weather. The sun is out. Sunglasses are on. Sweat is glistening. Finally, there's hope that summer is on the way.
Most Memorial Day celebrations are outside in the heat, gathering with friends or family over food, or consuming alcoholic beverages. Yet, even in May's typical 70- to 80-degree weather, being healthy and preventing illness should be on the forefront of the brain.
Please pass the potato salad… with a side of food poisoning
The lack of refrigeration at barbecue lunches invites bacteria to join the party. The biggest culprits are dishes made with mayonnaise, such as potato salad or coleslaw. Not fully cooking meat on the grille and accidentally touching cooked food with the raw meat utensils are also setups for food poisoning.
Food poisoning symptoms are not subtle. The abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting and diarrhea often hits suddenly, after two to six hours of eating the offending food. Most times, it has to simply runs its course. But, remember to stay hydrated and avoid milk or dairy until the diarrhea stops.
Pregnant women, children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems have to be especially careful.
In order to prevent infection, cook meat until fully done. Keep raw food far away from cooked food. And, keep the cold items in a good quality cooler with lots of ice. Maintain the cooler as close to 40 degrees Fahrenheit as possible.
Don't shrivel up
During hot weather months, especially when exercising, make it a point to drink more fluids. Waiting until thirst sets in is not always a reliable judge of dehydration, especially in older adults. Many people are already dehydrated long before feeling thirsty. The best judge of hydration is the color of urine. A well-hydrated person's urine is clear or pale yellow. Anything darker, and it's time to drink up.
Children and elderly adults are most sensitive to severe dehydration. But, regular, healthy adults are still 60 percent water. Even a small amount of dehydration can keep the body from working optimally. Women are suggested to drink eight glasses a day of fluids and men, 12 cups.
Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages -- such as coffee, green tea and soda -- actually dehydrates even more because the person loses fluids by urinating. So when drinking caffeinated liquids, increase fluid intake to make up for what's lost.
Running out of steam
Heat illnesses usually happen from staying in the heat too long. Sweating is the body's way of releasing internal heat, but sometimes sweating alone can't keep up with the body's rising temperature. Horsing around or exercising too much in hot weather increases the risk of dehydration. Young children, older adults and being overweight adds to that risk.
Heat exhaustion is characterized by profuse sweating, lightheadedness, nausea, headache and vomiting. Muscle cramps may occur and even precede heat exhaustion. Immediate treatment should involve getting out of the heat, sitting in front of a fan or using cold water and ice to get cool.
If not, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which is life-threatening. The dizziness and lightheadedness worsens, the person becomes confused, has seizures or can fall into a coma. The person is no longer sweating and the pulse is fast and weak. People with heat stroke need to be immediately cooled and brought to a hospital.
Alcohol and energy drinks make heat exhaustion and stroke more likely due to the dehydration. Also, ingredients in energy drinks -- especially caffeine -- can alone raise the body's temperature in hot weather.
Poisoned by a good time
Drinking many alcoholic beverages back-to-back -- typically five or more -- over a short period of time can cause alcohol poisoning. When the blood's level of alcohol increases to dangerous levels, the person can become unconscious and breathing can slow down, decreasing oxygen to the brain and body. If the person vomits while unconscious, they can choke to death on their vomit. If any of these symptoms occur after someone drinks alcohol, get them to medical attention immediately.
And driving this weekend? Remain sober. Nearly half of motor vehicle accidents involve alcohol. And, that number goes up around holidays and proms, making Memorial Day weekend a prime danger.
Dr. Tyeese Gaines is a physician-journalist with over 10 years of print and broadcast experience, now serving as health editor for theGrio.com (NBC News). Dr. Ty is also a practicing emergency medicine physician in New Jersey. Follow her on twitter at @doctorty.
Leave a Comment:
Dear Dr, Gaines,
In response to "Memorial Day is the first holiday to celebrate the start of warmer weather. "
I guess I am under the wrong impression that the holiday was meant to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Happy Shopping!!!!
Thank you for remembering, and in addition to the article, I live in the south and it's been warm for a while.
Here's to the fallen and alive that provide the blanket of security we sleep under, RIP Uncle Charles, you are never forgotten.
Semper Fi!
Memorial Day is intended to honor those who have fallen during service to the nation, but it is also the kickoff of summer activity's. In fact most people are out at parks and on the lakes partying without giving much thought to the actual holiday.
Semper Fi
Yes Memorial Day was created to honor our fallen military heroes. But it also starts the 101 critical days of summer.
While in the Air Force, I'd dress as the Grimm Reaper at the main gate in front of a wrecked car reminding people of the 101 days of summer. Then at the end of the day, I would head to the base flag pole and wait for retreat.
The following is now, 25MAY2012 15:07, on MSN.Com's home page. Have we all forgotten what "MEMORIAL DAY' was originally initiated as a NATIONAL HOLIDAY' for. It was/is supposed to be to remember our fallen comrades who took a pledge to defend "THE USA" aka " AMERICA", aka The UNITED STATES of AMERICA" even to the ultimate, death. Recently the freedoms granted to USA citizens by the Constitution with the Bill of Rights has been comprimised with a bill permitting the executive branch of our govrnment to arrest, confiscate, etc. more than originally granted by the same document. Anyhow we used to remember our fallen, "Parents, Grandparents, and all the other GRANDs, Siblings, Cousins, Aunts, & Uncles etal who have passed on. My Parents, rand Parents, & all Grands Uncles & Aunts have passed, I am the oldest member of my family and the activities in the post below make the entire holiday a SHAM!
"
Memorial Day weekend
Everyone is getting ready to celebrate the unofficial start of summer. Follow these safety tips for a fun holiday.
What is your big plan for the holiday?
What is your big plan for the holiday?
3 %
Attending a veteran parade
4,473 votes
6 %
Taking a getaway out of town
9,537 votes
24 %
Enjoying a barbecue with friends & family
35,168 votes
49 %
Nothing special, just relaxing
72,834 votes
11 %
I have to work this weekend
16,063 votes
7 %
Something else
9,901 votes
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Hi Ty! Great article!
Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Week end and passes on to others the reason for this holiday. RIP to my brothers and sisters who gave their lives for our country and to those Active, Reserve and Retired. Thank you for your service to our country.
It is probably to late but I am going to say this any way, if you have not left to drive on a long trip think twice about about it and don't. If you really care about the price of gas then stay at home or just keep it local. The onlything that will bring about a lower price is supply and demand. If you do not buy it then the price will come down. Just keep your driving to a minimum. I for one believe that Americans come first in the sale of our resources and when the greedy corporations and our elected government sells our resourses to another country at our expense then it is time for Americans to stand up and say NO and do something about it. As a veteran I say if you want to show your graditude then do it for all Americans by stopping the bleeding of our resources by corporate greed. God Bless America!
May God bless all who do their very best to obey him and his teachings not just in America but the whole world. You cannot straddle the fence it is as they say, "if you are not for God then you are against God" and history has shown in that war you will not win.
A God fearing veteran who would never join the godless Amerian military as it is today.
"Memorial Day is the first holiday to celebrate the start of warmer weather".
Excuse me, but I think the families "celebrating" the warmer weather in National and Local cemeteries around the US would disagree with you. I myself will be visiting my father and placing a flag and a cigar on his grave, as well as placing flags on the graves of others. Then, and only then, when my private, quiet thank you's, I love you's and I miss you's have been said and grieving tears have been shed, will I light the grill and pop a top, the first MGD drank for my father.
friends ? it a great day in thes weather....... and have a great looking great woooo hooooo """""""goood time???????
Memorial Day is not a holiday to celebrate the start of warmer weather! As the wife of an Army soldier it is really disappointing to realize that there are media outlets that see it that way. It is a day to remember and thank all the Military members who have fought for our country and the ones who have lost their lives doing so! To say that it's just about celebrating summer is disrespectful.
No body said it was just about the official start of summer. It's not about the history of memorial day, the article is about how to be safe on memorial day weekend. My grandmother had 17 kids, 8 boys and 9 girls. 7 of the boys went to war and the youngest was too young to go. Way too young. Some fought in Europe and some in Japan. One was in a German Prisoner of war camp and another was in a Japanese prison camp. All came home in one piece.Thankfully. I think we know what the day "means". So stop going off half cocked and read the writin'.
Stay thirsty, my friends...
I agree quit going off half-cocked regarding Memorial Day. Congress passed the The Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968 to give federal employees more three day weekends. Did this diminish the meaning of the holiday?
No, it didn't.
I spent over 20 years on active duty and for those 20 we celebrated Memorial Day remembering Our Fallen Comrades in Arms, and the beginning of summer.
Same as rufusthedog #11.1 - my grandmother had 13 children, 7 boys, 6 girls. Two uncles served in Europe and earned numerous awards including; 3-Purple Hearts, 2-Bronze Stars, and 1-Silver Star. My dad served during Korea, but his unit never deployed.
My younger brother and I both are retired military now, my nephew in on his 3rd tour.
I feel I have earned the right to celebrate Memorial Day weekend with some good BBQ and relaxing with family and friends, and honor Our Fallen Comrades in Arms. Tomorrow, I will have my Flag at half staff until noon, then at 1500 will observe a moment of silence.
Please stay safe, don't drink and drive, and remember to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to stay hydrated with this hot weather.
And - Remember, Our Freedom We Enjoy Wasn't Free!
What a moron. Where does MSNBC dig up these "experts" & outdated, recycled articles? I live in Mich., it was NOT a frigid winter. This has to be the worst "HomePage" I've ever had.
Memorial Day is also about the people who gave it all for the USA, that seems to be forgotten by most of these media types.
Also, why do I have to sign in everytime I try to comment on another PMSNBC article on this same page? I ain't got time & I'm not doing it. They know more of my business than I do. That's not right!
Enjoy the weekend friends, screw the rest of you.
I can only WISH summer would arrive in the Northwest. If there IS Global Warming, it's not happening here as we've had our 3rd bad spring in a row. This year, we've averaged temps 10-15 degrees below average and 20 below average this past week. More like Global Cooling.