========================= JeffNEWS, August 16, 1994 ========================= You and Your Health ------------------- Road Tripping With Food A picnic on a warm, sunny day is one of summer's sweetest pleasures. But don't let food poisoning spoil the fun. Before you pack the picnic basket and head to the nearest beach, mountain or park, here's some food for thought from Lisa Taormina, RD, nutrition and dietetics. o Wash your hands, utensils and preparation areas thoroughly before and after handling raw meat and poultry, to prevent the spread of bacteria to other foods. Pack disposable wipes in your picnic basket if you'll be cooking raw meat at the picnic site. o Use separate cutting boards for meat and raw fruit and vegetables. o Be sure that perishable foods are thoroughly chilled and placed in the cooler immediately. Plastic ice blocks are better than loose ice for keeping food cool. Perishable foods should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Take special care with potato salad, deviled eggs, cole slaw, meat and poultry and any other dishes containing mayonnaise, eggs, whipped cream or custards. o Don't buy bulging or dented cans in the grocery store, and check the expiration dates on food. Pass it by if the date has already expired. Make sure the containers you pack food in seal tightly. o Keep the cooler in the shade - not in a car trunk or in direct sunlight. o Don't pack partially cooked foods; that's an invitation to contamination. Either cook them thoroughly beforehand, or keep them cold and bring them raw. o When grilling raw meat at the picnic site, make sure you cook it thoroughly; juices should run clear and no pink meat should show. o Don't try to save perishable leftovers. It's unlikely that foods that have lasted through the picnic will be cool enough to survive the trip back home. o When in doubt - throw it out! Removing Norplant Implants Norplant has become one of the most reliable, convenient birth control choices for women in the United States. Norplant consists of six thin capsules implanted in a woman's upper arm. The capsules release a low, continuous dose of a synthetic hormone that can protect against pregnancy for up to five years, without the need for pills or condoms. But what happens when women decide to have the contraceptive removed? Gregory Fossum, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of Jefferson's Norplant removal program, says that unless women go to a physican who is trained in removing Norplant, they could risk their health. "Doctors need special training to implant the contraceptive and the same is true for surgically removing it," says Dr. Fossum. "Unnecessary scarring and pain can occur if the procedure isn't performed by a skilled technician." Women who want Norplant removed should make sure their healthcare provider is experienced in the procedure. Also, tell your doctor if you're experiencing side effects such as spotting between periods, headache or acne. These reactions can usually be treated very easily without removing the implant. Heed Sun Index for Fun-in-the-Sun Safety Along with the chance of showers and the expected high temperatures, daily weather reports now include the UV index, an estimate of how much ultraviolet (UV) radiation is likely to shine down on Philadelphia and 58 other cities around high noon. The rating is designed to remind people of the harmful effects of UV rays so they'll take steps to safely have fun in the sun by shielding themselves with sunscreen, sunglasses and protective clothing, says dermatologist Eric F. Bernstein, MD. Too much sun exposure increases your risk for skin cancer and cataracts, causes premature aging of the skin and can suppress your immune system. On the new UV index risk scale, the higher the number the greater the danger from sun exposure. o Minimal risk (0-2) - Limit sun exposure to one hour. o Low risk (3-4) - Fair-skinned people may burn in 20 minutes around the noon hour. Wear sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. o Moderate risk (5-6) - Fair-skinned people may burn in less than 15 minutes during midday. A sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15 is recommended. o High risk (7-9) - Fair-skinned people may burn in less than 10 minutes. Use a sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15 and limit time in midday sun. o Very high risk (10 and above) - Fair-skinned people may burn in less than five minutes. Use a sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15 and avoid the sun between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Although light-skinned people must be especially vigilant in not spending too much time in the sun unprotected, darker-skinned people should also take the UV index to heart. They, too, can suffer eye injury or skin damage from ultraviolet light exposure. Sign Up for From All Walks of Life AIDS Walk '94 Mark your calendar now and save Sunday, October 16, for a very important event. That's the day Jeffersonians and more than 18,000 people will meet at Eakins Oval for the eighth annual Philadelphia AIDS Walk. Walkers will solicit pledges to meet their goal of raising $850,000 for AIDS care, education and prevention for residents of the Delaware Valley. Many departments at Jefferson have already organized teams. In September, Jefferson's department of social work will set up tables in the Atrium cafeteria and around the campus to distribute pledge sheets and encourage additional Jeffersonians to walk as a team and raise funds by soliciting pledges from their friends and colleagues. Your participation will help AIDS patients throughout the tristate area including many patients receiving their care at Jefferson. For more information or to register, call Laurie Barron at 2080. Health and Fitness Expo Set for Scott Plaza September 21 Jefferson health and fitness fans will soon have the opportunity to spend some time out of doors with friends and colleagues, find out what's new in health and fitness, talk with the experts and learn what equipment vendors, programs and facilities are nearby. And they won't have to go far to do it. Right here on Scott Plaza, on Wednesday, September 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jefferson's Activities Office/Commons Board will sponsor a Health and Fitness Expo for Jeffersonians. Exhibitors will include companies whose products or services include beauty products, fitness equipment, skating, natural fruit drinks, active wear, fitness/athletic accessories, tennis, travel, vegetarian cooking, swim wear and accessories, camping equipment, aerobics demonstration, golf, dance, music. Jefferson's Health Awareness Program will conduct body fat testing, vision and cholesterol screening. Health professionals will be on hand to answer your questions. Visitors will have the chance to register for commons membership, intramural sports, ballroom dance, aerobics, and scuba and karate classes. Watch for campus flyers giving up-to-the-minute details. For more information, call 7743. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information provided by: Editor, JeffNEWS (215) 955-6204 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------