Planning an Egg Hunt for Easter? Don’t Give Germs a Place to Hide

Orange County’s Environmental Health Division is cautioning families to use particular care when preparing and hiding eggs at Easter. Federal regulators estimate that each year, 2.3 million eggs produced in the United States contain salmonella enteritidis bacteria. In recent years, eggs and egg-related products have been implicated in several outbreaks in the Southern California area. Those preparing Easter eggs can reduce the risk of food-borne illness by following these simple rules:

* Choose fresh eggs with clean, uncracked shells.

* Store eggs under refrigeration (45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower) until you are ready to use them.

* Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the eggs at every step including cooking, cooling, dyeing and hiding.

* Wash all utensils, equipment and work areas with hot, soapy water after contact with raw eggs.

* Hard-cook the eggs by boiling until the white and yolk are firm and not runny.

* Do not color or use any eggs that crack during cooking.

* If the eggs are to be eaten, use only food coloring to dye them.

* Use special care when hiding the eggs to prevent them from coming into contact with pets, wild animals, garden chemicals or other sources of contamination.

* Keep dyed eggs refrigerated until ready to use. Do not eat cracked eggs or eggs left unrefrigerated for more than two hours.

* Contact the Environmental Health Division at (714) 667-3600 for more information.

Protecting Kids, Users Against Injuries From Hot Curling Irons

According to a study conducted from 1985 to 1988, children younger than 5 suffered about 6,400 burn injuries each year requiring hospital emergency room treatment when they touched hot curling irons. Burns to young children represented about 60% of all injuries involving hair curling irons during these years, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Here are some prevention tips:

* Never leave a hot curling iron where a young child can reach it.

* Another hazard with hair curling irons is eye injury to the user. The commission estimates that there were 1,700 curling-iron-related eye injuries treated in emergency rooms each year from 1985 through 1988. Most victims were women 15 to 24 years old.

Source: County of Orange; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission