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| Vol. 22, No. 10 |
| June 1, 2000 |
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 Grab-'n'-Go Snacks Make for Easy Summer Living Easy-to-grab snacks make it easy to satisfy your children's hunger pangs with healthy foods, say nutritionists with the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine. They offer these tips:
- From Baylor College of Medicine Grill Safely This Summer Thaw meat in the refrigerator, then bring to the grill just before cooking. Don't try to thaw it by setting it in the shade (or sun) outside. Use a "quick-read" meat thermometer, the kind with the long spike, to check the temperature of the meat while it's on the grill. Meat can look done, but be raw in the middle. For burgers, slide the thermometer into the patty from the side for a more accurate read. Cook the burger to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, or cook until no longer pink. Steaks cooked to medium doneness should read 160 degrees F. Cook chicken breasts, thighs and wings to 170 degrees F. - From The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Staying Cool Make sure elderly family members have functional air conditioning and that they utilize it during the hottest parts of the day in the summer. In 1999, five elderly Houstonians died in their homes due to excessive heat and no air conditioning. In 1998, 13 elderly people died in their homes due to heat. As little as two hours a day of refrigerated air conditioning can provide life-saving relief to an elderly person. It is not necessary to air condition the entire house. During the heat of the summer, it may be difficult for the elderly to care for their yard. Well placed and trimmed trees and shrubs will contribute significantly to indoor temperature reduction. Well maintained grass is cooler than hard-packed earth or concrete. Seniors with no or limited air conditioning should restrict their indoor and outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day in the summer. - From the Houston Department of Health and Human Services Take the Plunge One of the hottest trends for seniors is "all wet." Water-based exercise is a great way for older people to experience the benefits of working out without the impact associated with activities such as jogging or tennis. Sports medicine experts at Baylor College of Medicine say the water provides a safe, effective medium for conditioning and toning. The types of exercise range from swimming and aerobics to strength and flexibility training. Whether the goal is to improve your health or simply add some activity to your life, the pool is a great place to start. - From Baylor College of Medicine Children Need to Steer Clear of Lawn Mowers Lawn mowers continue to be a major cause of serious injuries to children - often involving long hospitalizations and multiple operations to clean dirty wounds. Amputations of toes or other parts of the foot also are common. "These injuries can occur when a child is operating a lawn mower, riding on one or playing in the yard while it is being mowed," says Dr. William Phillips, chief of pediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis at Texas Children's Hospital. More severe injuries tend to occur in children less than 5 years old when they are riding on a mower with another person. Because these injuries most often happen at home, another family member is often involved, making the accident even more stressful. Up to 85 percent of injuries could be prevented by not allowing children less than 14 to operate lawn mowers or to be in the yard while it is being mowed. No passengers should be allowed on riding mowers. - From Texas Children's Hospital
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/06_01_00/page_21.html |