Environmental Health

What to do during a boil advisory/order:

• Boiling Water
  • Fill a pot of water.
  • Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
  • Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for AT LEAST 1 minute...
  • Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
  • Pour the water into a clean container with a lid for storage.
• Water Filters
  • Boil tap water even if it is filtered. Most kitchen and other household water filters typically do not remove bacteria or viruses.
• Ice
  • Do not use ice from ice trays, ice dispensers, or ice makers.
  • Throw out all ice made with tap water.
  • Make new ice with boiled or bottled water.
• Preparing and Cooking Food
  • Wash all fruits and vegetables with boiled water that has cooled or bottled water.
  • Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute before adding food to cook.
  • Use boiled water (that has cooled) when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and lemonade.
  • Wash food preparation surfaces with boiled water.
• Feeding Babies and Using Formula
  • Breastfeeding is best. Continue to breastfeed. If breastfeeding is not an option:
  • Use ready-to-use baby formula, if possible.
  • Prepare powdered or concentrated baby formula with bottled water. Use boiled water (that has cooled) if you do not have bottled water.
  • Wash and sterilize bottles and nipples before use.
  • If you cannot sterilize bottles, try to use single-serve, ready-to-feed bottles.
• Bathing and Showering
  • Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
  • Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
• Brushing Teeth
  • Brush teeth with boiled water (that has cooled) or bottled water. Do not use untreated tap water.
• Washing Dishes in Dishwasher
  • Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees or if the dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle.
• Washing Dishes by Hand
  • Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
  • In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
  • Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
  • Let the dishes air dry completely.
• Laundry
  • It is safe to do laundry as usual.
• Pets
  • Pets can get some of the same diseases as people. It is a good idea to give them boiled water that has been cooled.
• Disinfecting Water
  • If you are unable to boil your water, disinfect it instead.
  • If tap water is clear:
    • Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent).
    • Add 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops or about 0.75 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.
    • Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking.
    • Store disinfected water in a clean container with a cover.
  • If tap water is cloudy:
    • Filter water using a clean cloth.
    • Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent).
    • Add 1/4 teaspoon (16 drops or 1.5 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.
    • Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking.
    • Store disinfected water in a clean container with a cover.
    • Remember that containers may need to be sanitized before using them to store safe water.
  • TO SANITIZE CONTAINERS
    • Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent).
    • Make a sanitizing solution by mixing 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach in 1 quart (32 ounces, 4 cups, or about 1 liter) of water.
    • Pour this sanitizing solution into a clean storage container and shake well, making sure that the solution coats the entire inside of the container.

Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill: Ten Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness

Clean

1. Wash hands with soap and water
2. Sanitize surfaces
3. Clean sweep refrigerated foods once a week
4. Keep appliances clean
5. Rinse produce

Separate

1. Separate foods when shopping
2. Separate foods when preparing and serving

Cook and Chill

1. Use a food thermometer when cooking
2. Cook food to safe internal temperatures
3. Keep foods at safe temperatures

Did you know you should report complaints about local retail food establishments (restaurants, groceries, taverns, or mobile food units) and products to your local health department?

Please call the Posey County Health Department at 812-838-1329 Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM to report:

1. Complaints about an establishment: Cleanliness/sanitation, poor employee practices, improperly cooked or handled food, food that tastes bad, or foreign material in food
   *Information to include: name and location of establishment, date and time of visit, nature of the complaint, and any additional details.
2. Complaints about a food product: Foreign material in a product, chemical taste/smell, and tampering.
   *Information to include: brand name of the item, where and when purchased, product code and/or expiration code (not the UPC code), and nature of the complaint.

For food products, you can notify the manufacturer or distributor of a packaged product, or the manager of a retail facility too.

Food & Drug Recall List for Indiana

The Indiana State Department of Health maintains a current list of food and drug recalls that could potentially affect Indiana residents. If you have a question about a recall you may contact us or the manufacturer for more information.

Click here for the current recall list.

Let's Talk Ticks!

If you’ve been in an area where ticks are common:

1. Bathe or shower as soon as possible.
2. Wash and/or tumble your clothes in the dryer on high heat.
3. Check your body carefully for ticks. (Adult deer ticks, which carry Lyme Disease, are the size of sesame seeds.)
4. Remove ticks right away to prevent the spread of disease.
5. Call and/or visit your doctor if you develop a fever, headache, muscle/joint pain, fatigue or a rash within a few weeks of removing the tick(s).

Tick Removal:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers.
2. Grab the tick close to the skin and gently pull upward to remove the entire tick.
3. Don’t use home remedies like nail polish, petroleum jelly, or a lit match to remove ticks.
4. After removing the tick, clean the bite area with soap and water and wash your hands thoroughly.

Tick Bite Prevention:

1. Help keep ticks off your skin by wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks.
2. Permethrin can be applied to clothes, boots, and camping gear.
3. Apply an insect repellant with at least 20% DEET on your skin. (Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children’s skin.)
4. Walk in the center of trails and avoid tall vegetation when possible.
5. Don’t forget about protecting your pets. Consult your veterinarian and follow package instructions.

Click here for more information from the CDC

Let's Talk Mosquitos!

Five Rules to Prevent Mosquito Bites

1. Dawn & Dusk: Stay indoors at sunrise, sunset, and early evening hours when mosquitos are most active.
2. Dress: Wear light-colored, lightweight long-sleeve shirts, pants, and socks when outdoors to decrease mosquito-skin contact.
3. Defend: Apply a thin layer of an appropriate insect repellant containing DEET or Picardin (according to the product label) to your exposed skin and clothing.
4. Drain: Drain standing water (mosquito breeding ground) from birdbaths, garden ponds, saucers under flower pots, unused kids pools, pet water dishes, outdoor toys, buckets, boats, canoes, tarps, pool covers, wheelbarrows, rain gutters, pipes, etc.
5. Screen: Mosquitos can fly through small openings. Check and repair screens on your windows and doors. Use caulk to fill tiny gaps/cracks in your windows to ensure a good seal.

Click here for more information from the CDC