MCALLEN, Texas (VALLEY CENTRAL) — The holiday season is here and South Texas Health System is sharing tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable season for all families.
Michael Menowski, an emergency and critical care physician at STHS, said the hospital has seen an increase in patients over the Thanksgiving period.
Menowski gave tips on burns, wound care, and food poisoning.
No one wants to get burned while preparing the perfect holiday meal, but accidents can happen.
“We get a lot of trauma like that. Fortunately, it’s usually first- or second-degree burns, like a burn from a pot of water,” Menowsky said. he said.
Menowski recommends that people who sustain minor injuries or burns at home do the following:
Wash the burn area Cool the skin and rinse with cold water Pat dry (do not scrub dry) Apply three types of antibiotics topically
If a minor wound or burn does not heal within two days, Dr. Menowski recommends visiting the emergency room for evaluation.
If you sustain a major cut or burn, we recommend that you visit your local emergency room immediately.
“For those who have further concerns, we are here. They can come to the emergency room and we will be happy to evaluate the burn,” Menofsky said. “I’d rather come to my house and tell them it’s okay and to go home than potentially have a burn that gets infected.”
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And when preparing holiday meals, the last thing anyone wants to bring to the table is food poisoning.
Health officials typically confirm cases of food poisoning a day or two after the holidays, when families reheat meals.
“The big issue is storing food after Thanksgiving. Make sure everything is in the refrigerator, in sealed containers, and reheated properly,” Menowski says.
Outbreaks of various types of food poisoning, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, tend to increase and can last from 2 to 4 days.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1 in 6 Americans will become ill from foodborne illness during the holidays.
Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and/or signs of dehydration.
Menowski says there are several ways to identify spoiled food to prevent illness.
Food smells strange Food doesn’t taste good Food can leave a burning sensation in your mouth
“The important thing is to stockpile food. I think this will save people from food poisoning,” Menowski continued.
If you suffer from food poisoning, we recommend that you visit your local hospital emergency department or your primary care physician.
“If you’re vomiting more than a few times, you probably need to come in,” Menofsky continued. “We can treat them, make sure all their electrolytes are normal, give them medication for nausea and vomiting, make sure they can hold down fluids and send them home if appropriate. ”
