Environmental health tips for the summer months

MOSES LAKE — Summer is on the way. And in a lot of respects it is already here. You can almost pencil in temperatures to be in the mid 70s or 80s on a daily basis and those pesky mosquitoes are already starting to make their presence known with their itchy and annoying parting gifts.

Being aware of one’s surroundings during summer months is an absolute must. Environmental health should not be taken lightly, especially in an area with a rich environmental diversity like the Columbia Basin. Amber McCoy, environmental health specialist with the Grant County Health District, says people should be aware of the followings things as areas where one’s health could possibly be put at risk: mosquitoes, food, bats, wildfires, air quality, petting zoos at fairs, water recreation, ticks, and illnesses brought on by heat. One of the major areas McCoy wants people to be aware of is proper food storage, handling and preparation techniques. It should go without saying, but when it comes to food safety hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent food born illnesses. “If there is not a hand-washing sink available you could always set up a temporary hand-washing station, which we always encourage and is required for our food vendors out at the farmer’s market and fairs,” McCoy explained. With summer being a popular time for outdoor barbecues and events, McCoy said a simple notion to remember is keeping cold foods cold, and hot foods hot. When it comes to cold foods, she encouraged using a lot of ice and pre-chilling items before preparation. For hot foods, she suggested using a meat thermometer to ensure foods are safe to eat. Hamburgers should have a core temperature of 160 degrees, poultry should be at least 165 degrees, pork and beef should be 145 degrees, seafood should be 145, and wild game should be at least 165 degrees. “Throw away anything that has been out for more than two hours if you are having a barbecue, picnic or potluck. Two hours should be max and if it is really hot outside I wouldn’t let them be out for more than an hour because that is a perfect incubating temperature for bacteria,” McCoy said. With the Basin offering numerous outdoor water recreation opportunities, McCoy said people should be aware of their surroundings when they are in both treated and untreated water. When it comes to treated water in pools, she encouraged people to do their homework and ensure the pool has been treated with proper chemicals. In both treated and untreated water surfaces, children and adults can easily contract disease by consuming the water they are swimming in, which McCoy said people should keep to a minimum if at all possible. While in untreated water, vigilance is key. “In untreated water there is the potential for harmful algae,” McCoy said. “So if you see any signs that it is occurring, avoid those areas. People and animals. Don’t let anybody swim in those areas where you see foam, or scum, or algae on the surface of the water.” The last major potential hazard McCoy says people should be aware of is mosquitoes and the possibility of contracting West Nile Virus. West Nile is detected in Grant County on an annual basis and McCoy said the virus has already been detected in Yakima and it is only a matter of time before the virus finds its way into the Basin. She encouraged using mosquito repellents and eliminating standing water locations, as standing water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. For more information on environmental health visit the GCHD’s website at www.granthealth.org.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.