July 2, 2021 10:50 a.m.

With the upcoming holiday weekend, officials with the Oregon Health Authority are calling for residents to stay safe and healthy.

OHA Public Health Physician Richard Leman said, “If you’re going to the beach or spending time at a river or lake, the water’s often still pretty cold this time of year and can cause problems for even the strongest swimmer”. He said those who go in the water, should stay where it is shallow, wear a life jacket when boating, and keep a close eye on kids when they’re around the water.

To prevent injury and illness this holiday weekend:

*Avoid alcohol when swimming or boating

*Use plenty of sunscreen to prevent sunburns

*Drink lots of water to stay hydrated

*Keep meat and poultry refrigerated until ready to use

*Don’t leave food out for more than two to three hours

*To prevent foodborne illness, don’t use the same platter and utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry

For more information on food safety: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/DiseasesConditions/CommunicableDisease/Pages/index.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery