HOW TO AVOID FOOD POISONING.

• Position: Brief Article

While summer may mean outdoor fun with barbecues and picnics for many Americans, a number of them may find themselves indoors in the emergency room because of food poisoning. "Many people don't realize that the home is one of the most common places for foodborne illnesses--what we generally call food poisoning. And most cases occur during the summer because of improper food handling," notes Wahida Karmally, Director of Nutrition at the Irving Center for Clinical Research at the Columbia Presbyterian Center of the New York Presbyterian Hospital. "Fortunately, by following a few simple rules, it's very easy to decrease your family's chances for developing food poisoning."

Symptoms such as headache, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle aches, and fatigue often can be severe enough that emergency treatment or hospitalization is warranted. "While most food poisoning is not usually life-threatening, consequences can often be quite serious and, at the very least, fairly unpleasant.... So, it's vital to always follow safe food preparation practices," Karmally advises. She offers the following tips:

* Wash hands often in warm, soapy water, especially before food preparation and after handling raw meat and seafood.

* Always wash hands front and back and up to the wrists, between fingers, and under the nails.

* Wash hands after switching tasks, such as handling raw meat, then cutting vegetables.

* Bring soap and water to wash hands at picnics.

* Dry hands with disposable paper or clean cloth towels, or let them air dry.

* Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat foods.

* Store raw meat and seafood on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, so their juices...