With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror and Christmas just a couple of weeks away this is the time of year for family dinners, parties, and other gatherings where food is served. But the merriment can turn to misery if the food makes you sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 48 million people a year get sick from a food-borne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die. Symptoms of food born illness can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Those at risk of more severe and even life-threatening food-borne illness include older adults, infants, young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. The Crawford County Health Department has some simple tips to avoid such unpleasantness this holiday season. A good rule of thumb is, make sure hot foods are hot and cold foods are cold. For more information visit the CCHD website at CCHD.net.
