| Keep immunizations up-to-date
- Follow recommended immunizations for children
and adults.
- Remember pets need their shots too!
Wash your hands often, especially:
- After using the bathroom
- Before preparing food or eating
- After changing diapers
- After blowing your nose and/or using hands
when sneezing or coughing
- After caring for a sick person
- After playing with or handling your pet
Prepare/handle food carefully
- Wash hands before and after handling foods.
- Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold until
eaten or cooked.
- Be sure temperature controls in refrigerators
and freezers are working properly.
- Wash counters, cutting boards, and utensils
with soap and hot water, especially after preparing
eggs, poultry, or other meats. Use separate cutting
boards for meat.
- Wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating.
- Cook meat, poultry, and eggs thoroughly. Usinga
meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that
food is thoroughly cooked.
- Refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible after
meals.
Use antibiotics only for infections caused
by bacteria
- Antibiotics are not useful in treating infections
caused by viruses (for example, antibiotics will
not shorten the course of a cold).
- Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Complete
the full course of treatment.
- Never self-medicate with antibiotics or share
them with family or friends.
Report to your doctor any rapidly worsening infection
or any infection that does not get better after
taking a course of antibiotics, if prescribed
Be careful around all wild animals and
domestic animals unfamiliar to you
- After any animal bite, cleanse the wound with
soap and water and seek immediate medical care.
Avoid insect bites
- Use insect repellants on skin and clothing
when in areas where ticks or mosquitoes are common.
- If you have visited wooded or wilderness areas
and become sick, tell your doctor all details
in order to help diagnose both rare and common
illnesses quickly.
Protect yourself by using safer sex practices
and avoid sex with an injecting drug user
Stay alert to disease threats when you travel or
visit underdeveloped countries
- Get all recommended traveler’s immunizations.
- Use protective medications for travel, especially
to areas with malaria.
- Don’t drink untreated water, especially
while hiking or camping.
- If you become ill when you return home, tell
your doctor where you’ve been.
Develop healthy habits such as eating well, getting
enough sleep, exercising, and avoiding tobacco and
illegal drug use
Return
to Fact Sheet Index
Maryland Department of Health
& Mental Hygiene
— Epidemiology & Disease
Control Program
May 2002
|
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