FIRST TRAVEL AID FOR FOOD POISONING

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.