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Health Ministry issues Carnival safety tips
Published:
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Ministry of Health, in its continuing drive on food and water safety, noise pollution and other related safety matters for Carnival, yesterday issued the following safety tips on how citizens can protect themselves from high noise levels, sunburn and the consumption of unsafe food and water during the Carnival period.
Noise levels and Carnival
High noise levels, even short-term exposure, can permanently damage a person’s hearing and lead to annoying tinnitus (noise in the ear) which may not ever go away. It is not difficult to judge if the level of noise is loud enough to cause damage to hearing.
The following signs should alert people that the sound around them is loud enough to damage hearing:
People have to shout to be heard
People cannot understand anyone who is speaking to them from less than two (2) feet away
People experience ringing in the ears or hearing loss after exposure to the loud sounds
The following is some general advice for the Carnival season:
All people especially children, should stay well away from speaker boxes, music trucks, very loud steelbands or any other source of loud sound
Ear protection (earplugs or earmuffs) should be worn if any adult or child is likely to be exposed to loud sound for long periods of time.
n All musicians (including steelband players, music band players, rhythm section players, entertainers, etc.) should wear ear protection whenever the level of sound is high.
n All masqueraders should wear ear protection if they are likely to be near to the music source or loud sound (eg near the “big truck”).
Walking in front of loudspeakers should be avoided.
When wearing ear protection, individuals should be very alert and avoid areas with moving vehicular traffic or similar hazards, as all sounds will be muted.
Children wearing hearing protection should be closely supervised at all times.
Use sunscreen on any exposed skin areas. An SPF of 45+ is recommended. Use lip balm as well.
Don’t forget hard-to-reach places such as the backs of your knees, back of your neck, elbows and the back of your ears. Feet should also be included if you are wearing sandals, flip-flops or going bare-foot.
Put a small amount of oil or sunscreen so burning your hair will be avoided.
Examine your skin frequently for new skin growth or changes in existing moles, freckles, bumps and birthmarks.
Wear protective clothing, eg, long-sleeved shirts, long pants & wide-brimmed hats.
Beware of reflective surfaces such as sand, water and concrete which can reflect more than half the sun’s rays onto your skin.
NB The sun not only causes sunburns but can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke; sitting in the shade is no guarantee of protection either.
Guidelines for preventing dehydration
Avoid direct sun if possible. Find a shady cool place if outdoors and wear light, loose clothing and a hat. Children especially, should wear a hat.
n People should drink lots of water. Drink even more if engaging in high levels of physical activity (eg, playing mas), in direct sun or if fever is present. Rehydration fluids should also be used if a person has vomiting or diarrhoea. Fruits such as pineapple, watermelon are helpful.
Take a cool but short shower to cool down after heat exposure.
Limit alcohol, caffeine, salty foods, sugary drinks, and laxative use as this tends to dehydrate.
Take precautions with children, they become dehydrated more easily.
Look for signs of dehydration which include dry mouth, sunken eyes, dizziness, drowsiness, decreased urination. Seek medical attention if you see these signs.
Food safety tips
The following are some tips to prevent or reduce the risk of becoming ill from consuming unsafe food.
Cleanliness of food handler
Observe the appearance and personal habits of the food handler:
The food handler should have a valid “food handler badge” prominently displayed at all times.
Food handlers should have clean clothing and their head should be covered
Nails should be short, clean and there should be an absence of nail polish and excessive jewelry
People should not have rashes and other visible skin infections
People should not be smoking, picking their noses and scratching other parts of their body
People should not be coughing, sneezing and displaying other symptoms that suggest they are ill.
Water and Ice Safety Tips
Once a food contains or comes in contact with water, that food is at risk of being contaminated if the water is unclean.
Foods that are high-risk include beverages (juices, drinks, etc), fruits and vegetables, bottled water, snow cone, stored water, etc.
Ensure that water and ice are free from colour, haze, odour, debris and off-taste
Use only ice made with potable (clean and drinkable) water.
Do not use untreated water for food preparation, washing of utensils, equipment or hand washing.
Use cleaned and sanitised utensils and tools to handle or store ice and water
Keep potable water in a cool, sanitary place to avoid microbial growth and other contaminants
Do not store water or ice in containers that did not previously contain food, eg, paint buckets
Use clean ice to cool foods.
Purchase water and ice from only reputable suppliers (this includes bottled water).
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