Wednesday, August 19, 1992 &

@ Proper food preparation and
storage is the key to safe summer

The number of cases of Escherichia disease
that have occurred this year is within the ex-
pected range for the season. Nevertheless, be-
cause of the potential seriousness of this ill-
ness — as evidenced by the recent death of a
12-year-old girl from Langley — the Central
Kootenay Health Unit is issuing this infor-
mation on “hamburger disease”.

What is it?

Despite the many pleasures of summer,
it’s important not to become an unwitting,
complacent victim of “hamburger” disease.

Also known .as “barbecue season syn-
drome”, this disease is a form of food poison-
ing caused by the E coli bacterium. E coli bac-
teria are often found in undercooked meat,
most frequently in ground beef.

What are the symptoms?

Infection is characterized by diarrhea,
which is initially watery and in serious cases
by vomiting, abdominal cramps and a mild
fever. The symptoms, which can start any
time between two days and a week after eat-
ing contaminated food, typically last between
five and 10 days.

In a small number of cases, the E coli toxin
(or poison) results in a serious, sometimes fa-
tal complication called Hemolytic Uremic
Syndrome. This can result in kidney failure,
anemia and a bleeding disorder and can be es-
pecially dangerous to young children and the
elderly.

Where does the disease come from?

The bacteria that produce the toxins have
been found in most food animals, including
beef, pork and poultry products. Human in-
fection is caused by undercooked meat and

unpasteurized milk.
ularly hazardous because the bacteria, which
contaminate cut meat surfaces during
butchering, become widely distributed urine
the grinding process.

How do you avoid contracting this
disease?

In British Columbia, as many as 400 cas-
es of hamburger disease are reported annu-
ally, and it’s believed that many thousands of
other, less severe cases, gO unreported. The
best protection against infection from E coli
and other bacteria (such as salmonella) is a
combination of thorough cooking and safe
food preparation:

¢ refrigerate or freeze meats as soon as
possible after buying

¢ thaw meats in the fridge, not at room
temperature

¢ wash hands thoroughly before preparing
food, after handling raw meat, and after us-
ing the toilet

* either cook hamburger patties right
away, or put them in the refrigerator. Don't let
raw meat sit at room temperature

¢ wash all utensils, cutting boards and
counters with hot, soapy water to prevent
bacteria from raw meats from contaminating
other foods

* cook al} meats thoroughly. The centre of
hamburger patties should be brown, not pink
and the juices clear

serve cooked meats immediately, or keep
them hot (above 77 degrees Celsius).

What about treatment for the disease?

Individuals experiencing cramps and/or
bloody diarrhea should consult their, physi-
cian. Drinking lots of clear fluids is important.
Do not take anti-diarrhea medicine unless
you first consult your physician.

Local library offers
all a bevy of books

So how many books did Castlegar children read this sum-
mer? Can you guess? v

The Castlegar and District Library is sponsoring a contest
asking people to guess how many books participants in the
Summer Reading Program read. A guesstimate can be made
from the below photos or contest entrants can take a quick trip
to the library basement to see the murals themselves (no long-
term counting please.)

A prize will be awarded for the the nearest estimate. The con-
test closing date will be September 2, 1992.

Summer Reading Program participants Amanda and Kim
Plotnikoff are shown with murals depicting the reading theme of
Whete in the World...? The murals are full of symbols (birds,
elephants, and backpacks) which ns ak represent a book read by
the summer students.

™@ Wednesday, August 19, 1992

B.C. cracking down on lubricants

@ Sellers who fail to
comply with new law may
be facing $5,000 fine

Martin Meyer
RECYCLING ADVISORY GROUP

As of Sept. 1, new legislation
will be in place to deal with
used lubricating oil in B.C.

The regulations are aimed
at establishing a system for re-

~ sponsible handling of used lu-
bricating oil.

Used lubricating oil con-
tains many contaminants.
Heavy metals are absorbed
from the wear of engine parts
and bearings and various haz-
ardous chemicals are formed in
the lubricants when additives
are in contact wit hot engine
parts.

Lubricating oil does not
“wear out”. It can be used re-
peatedly if it is cleaned and ad-
ditives are replaced.

The regulations define lu-
bricating oil as engine oil,
They apply to all wholesale
and retail sellers of lubricating
oil in B.C. :

Recycling
and
You

According to the regula-
tions, every seller shall either
provide a return facility for
used lubricating oil at the sell-
er’s premises, or shall establish
a contract with another person
to operate a return facility to
accept used lubricating oil
from the seller’s customers.

In most cases, the contract
facility must be within four
kilometers of the seller’s
premises.

The return facility must be
available — without charge —
to any person who wishes to re-
turn used lubricating oil. It
must also accept lubricating oil
in quantities up to 20 litres per

person, or larger quantities
equivalent to the maximum
size of containers sold on the
premises.

Return facilities must also
operate during the normal
business hours of the premises
where the facility is located.

The regulation further state
that every seller shall post at
least one sign, at the point of
display or point of sale, con-
taining information regarding
the facility for the return of
used oil on the seller’s premis-
es or the name and location of
the facility which has been con-
tracted to accept the seller’s
used lubricating oil.

Additionally, every seller
shall provide an area, either at
the point of display or point of
sale, for educational materials
in the form of pamphlets and
other appropriate materials
made available from time to
time by the lubricating oil in-
dustry and the Ministry of En-
vironment.

Sellers who fail to comply
with the provisions of the new
legislation are subject to fines
of up to $5,000 if convicted.

IN MEMORY

Lorne Leverington

On Wednesday, July 29, 1992, Lorne Leverington died
suddenly in a motorcycle accident near Kalso. He was 23
years old.

Lorne was born in Nelson, spending most of his
younger life in Salmo. The family moved to Castlegar
where Lorne entered Stanley Humphries Secondary
School.

In both Salmo and Castlegar, he was an avid scouter,
travelling to Britain, Alberta and Montana for jam-
borees.

In high school, he was a member of the track and vol-
leyball teams. Upon graduation, he went on to Selkirk
College’s Forestry and University Transfer Programs.

He had spent the last three years working and living
in the Ainsworth area. j

Lorne loved his music, the outdoors and had a real
zest for life.

He is survived by his mother Arlene Dow of
Coppermine, N.W.T., his sister Lana Leverington of
Victoria and his father Stuart Leverington of Trail.

In lieu of flowers, a fund was established to sent kids
to scout camp. Donations may be made to Scouts
Canada, Group No. 7, Davis Street, Nelson V1L 3V2.

Sympathy Flowers — a beautiful way to
honor a beautiful life.

HOURS:

Mon.-Sat.9-5:30

301-11th Ave., Downtown Castlegar - 365-5191

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