Press Release - Celebrate the holiday season with food safety tips from York Region

Reduce the risk of food-borne illness during the holiday season

NEWMARKET – The holiday season is a special time when friends and family get together to share good company and good food. The Regional Municipality of York Public Health branch reminds residents to prevent food-borne illness, also known as food poisoning, by using proper techniques when preparing and serving your holiday meals. Host a safe holiday gathering by following these food safety precautions:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with liquid soap and warm water prior to preparing, handling, serving and eating food• Always use clean dishes, cutting boards and work surfaces when preparing, handling, serving and eating food• Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave; never on the counter• Avoid cross-contamination of products; keep and store raw meats, poultry and seafood separately and away from ready-to-eat foods• Provide serving utensils and avoid direct hand contact with prepared foods• When possible, serve food immediately after preparation• If you are hosting a holiday pot-luck, use hot plates to keep food hot and ice to keep cold foods cold • If food is held at the proper temperature during the party, it can be stored as leftovers; if food is left at room temperature for more than two hours, it should be discarded• Uncooked eggs may contain Salmonella bacteria; Be cautious when preparing, serving and consuming foods that may contain raw eggs, including homemade eggnog and caesar salad dressing

For more information on safe food handling practices or any other health-related topic, please contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

Press Release - York Region paramedics help make Christmas Eve warm and "bear-able" for local children and seniors

NEWMARKET – York Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics will distribute teddy bears this Christmas Eve to children who require paramedic assistance en route to, or in, York Region hospital emergency rooms and children's wards.

Ganz: The Teddy Bear Company generously donated 350 teddy bears to York Region EMS for distribution. This is the third consecutive year for the Christmas Eve teddy bear giveaway.

More than 45 blankets will also be distributed this year to elderly patients in York Region hospital palliative care units. These blankets were hand-knit and donated by the "Nanny Blanket Drive," a team of York Region EMS paramedics, family and friends.

The media is invited to interview paramedics as they load teddy bears and blankets into emergency vehicles.

WHEN: Monday, December 24, 2007 11 a.m.
WHERE: EMS Paramedic Response Station 520 Cane ParkwayTown of Newmarket For more information on this or any other EMS-related topic, please contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

Sports Report

NHL: Tampa Bay 2 Toronto 1

Tonight

NBA: Toronto at Seattle; 10:30pm

AHL: Toronto at Rochester; 7:35pm

OPJHL: Markham vs. Dixie; 7:30pm, Centennial Arena

- ER