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Food
poisoning may be caused by eating food that is contaminated,
either by bacteria or by toxins produced by bacteria present
in the food at some time.
Bacterial food poisoning is often caused by the salmonella
group of bacteria. Symptoms may develop within a few hours,
or be delayed for a day or so.
Toxic food poisoning is often caused by toxins produced
by the bacterial group staphylococcus. Symptoms usually
develop rapidly, sometimes within two to six hours of
consumption.
PREVENTION
Clean - Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with
hot soapy water before and after food preparation, and
especially after preparing meat, poultry, eggs, or seafood.
Separate - Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, or seafood
and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods; never place
cooked food on an unwashed plate that previously held
raw meat, poultry, eggs, or seafood.
Cook - Cook food to the proper internal temperature
(this varies for different cuts and types of meat and
poultry) and check for doneness with a food thermometer.
Cook eggs until both yolk and white are firm.
Chill - Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared
food, and leftovers within 2 hours and make sure that
the refrigerator temperature is set no higher than 40°
F and the freezer temperature is 0° F.
SIGNS
Most
food poisioning effects on body clears up in a few days
on its own.
In the case of continued illness seek medical advice.
Children, elders,
pregnant women, and the persons who use antacids heavily
are at more
risk of getting food poison.
Symptoms are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea
or pus in the stool, some abdominal pain, fever that lasts
longer than 24 hours, dizziness, fainting, rapid heart
rate, weakness, numbness or tingling in the arms, legs
or mouth.
FIRST
AID
FOOD
POISONING SHOUD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. YOU MAY NEED ANTIBIOTICS.
Lie down and rest.
Use a heating pad or hot water bottle to help relieve
stomach cramps.
Drink plenty of liquids until the diarrhea stops.
Eat healthy, soft, bland foods such as bananas, rice,
applesauce, and toast.
CALL
IMMEDIATELY FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IF:
You can't
drink fluids or keep food down.
You have high temperature, yellow color to the skin or
eyes, cough up blood, or worsening diarrhea.
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