Seven Tips To Prevent E. Coli Infections

Stephanie Smith of Minnesota, a dance instructor that is 22, most likely will be paralyzed for life. Doctors think that she will not be able to walk. She suffered from a severe form of illness caused by E. Coli. Other reports of E. Coli are continually being analyzed.

Stephanie ate a hamburger that her mother had cooked in the early fall of 2007 (New York Times). Her symptoms were: diarrhea turned bloody, violent seizures, and then finally coma. She survived, but is now paralyzed from the waist down.

The New York Times states that eating beef is still a gamble. Here’s the deal. Different parts of a cow, different grades of meat, and different slaughterhouses, are being used. The really bad part — no federal law requiring grinders to be tested. Do you know where your hamburger comes from?

SEVEN TIPS TO PREVENT E. COLI INFECTION ( Source: About.com: Pediatrics)
1. Cook hamburger thoroughly. That means no pink in the middle. Thermometer should read 160 degrees.
2. While in a restaurant demand a well cooked burger. Check it.
3. Keep raw meat separate from other foods. Keep plates and utensils away from raw meat. In other words, don’t stick a fork in a burger that is not done, and then use the same fork later, without cleaning it.
4. Drink only pasteurized milk and juices.
5. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
6. Drink water that has been treated, and not swimming pool water as you swim.
7. Wash hands thoroughly, and often.