Bigger & Harman,APC - May 2018

TAKE A BITE OUT OF FOOD POISONING

Food poisoning can hit fast and hard and knock you out of commission for several days. But what is food poisoning? It’s a broad term that covers a number of illnesses caused by a range of bacteria, viruses, and mold. These germs spread like crazy and can come from virtually anywhere, including food, glass and tableware, countertops, door handles, and faucets.

need water in your system. As symptoms subside, supplement water with Gatorade or Pedialyte to ward off dehydration. Avoid over-the-counter medications such as Pepto-Bismol or Imodium. These medications can prolong symptoms. Two days can become four. Your body is working to rid itself of the illness, and these medications slow the process. Clean every surface. These germs spread on contact and often find their way onto food because someone didn’t wash their hands properly. Clean surfaces with bleach-based cleanser. Use disinfecting wipes, or make your own bleach-water solution. Wipe down every surface you have come in contact with. And don’t forget to wash your hands! For a comprehensive breakdown of foodborne illnesses, check out the FDA’s resource site at fda.gov/Food/ FoodborneIllnessContaminants.

• Frequent vomiting • Diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours • Severe pain (particularly abdominal) • Fever (over 101.5 F) • Dehydration (dry mouth, dizziness, extreme thirst, lightheadedness, little or no urination, weakness) • Blurred vision • Muscle weakness If you experience severe symptoms, seek a physician immediately. If not properly treated, these symptoms can cause serious complications, such as kidney and nerve damage. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are the most susceptible. If you suspect you have food poisoning, stay hydrated . As your body fights off illness, you will lose a lot of water. It may be difficult to keep down at first, but you

It’s often a challenge to identify the source of suspected food poisoning. When you start to feel sick, you think back to what you ate earlier in the day. Was it spoiled sandwich meat? Cream cheese? The salad? Something else entirely? The biggest food poisoning culprits — norovirus, E. coli, salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria — can come from foods that smell, look, and taste fine. It’s not just the spoiled stuff. Overall, symptoms tend to be consistent:

• Nausea • Vomiting • Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain • Moderate fever

Symptoms typically begin 1–6 hours after eating contaminated food and last 2–3 days. In some cases, people may experience more severe symptoms:

THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF

Bobbie the Wonder Dog

Imagine America in 1923. Yankee Stadium opened its doors for the very first time. Walt and Roy Disney founded The Walt Disney Company. The first issue of Time magazine hit newsstands. President Warren G. Harding died of a heart attack in office,

throughout their stay, but time ran out, and the Braziers had to return home to Oregon without their beloved Bobbie.

What the Braziers didn’t know was that Bobbie had been searching for his family as well. He may have been scared away, but he was determined to get back home. And so began his incredible journey. He turned his head west and began walking. And walking. With winter setting in, Bobbie had a monumental task ahead. Bobbie swam across numerous rivers. He trekked across the Great Plains and over the Rocky Mountains. While we will never know exactly what Bobbie endured, we know he made it home. Over 2,500 miles later, in February, 1924, a tired and beaten-down pup arrived home in Silverton, Oregon, to a stunned family.

and Vice President Calvin Coolidge became the 30th president. And Bobbie the Wonder Dog trekked 2,550 miles to return home. Of all the stories to come out of 1923, Bobbie’s may be the most incredible. It all started with a road trip. The Brazier family of Silverton, Oregon, decided to take a road trip to visit relatives in Wolcott, Indiana. Mom, Dad, their two daughters, and their Scotch collie piled in the family Overland Red Bird touring car and headed across preinterstate-highway- system America. Several days later, after the Braziers had settled in with their Wolcott relatives, Bobbie the Scotch collie was attacked by a pack of dogs. The dogs scared Bobbie away, and despite a long search around Wolcott, the family was unable to find any trace of the collie. The search continued

Bobbie the Wonder Dog’s story made national headlines. He received a medal and the key to the city, and he became a silent movie star in the film “The Call of the West.” Today, you can visit Bobbie’s memorial near his home in Oregon.

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