Community fairs, festivals return; safety should be priority

Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, Wis.  –  Summer in Wisconsin is synonymous with fairs, festivals, outdoor concerts and carnivals. As music, food and rides return after a hiatus during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offer these safety reminders when attending events:

• Wash your hands often, especially after visiting animal enclosures, after using the restroom and before eating or drinking. Bring hand sanitizer or disposable wipes to use in between washing with soap and water.
• Drink plenty of water. This is especially true if it is a hot day with high heat index and/or if consuming alcohol.
• Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol can dehydrate the body, and when mixed with sun and heat the effects of alcohol can be intensified quickly.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater and remember to reapply often.
• Observe food vendors’ safety practices before ordering. Food handling, serving and storage should be the same outdoors as if foods are being prepared in a home or restaurant kitchen.
  • Be sure the workers wear gloves
  • Be sure the vendor has a food permit posted
  • Look for refrigeration on-site for raw ingredients
  • Do not eat food that is undercooked

For more information about how to make gatherings safer, visit the CDC Your Health webpage.

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About HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889, it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition.

About HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1885, it has served the people of the Chippewa Falls area with health care that is high tech and high touch. Known locally for the quality of the care it provides patients, the hospital has been recognized nationally for its outstanding patient satisfaction levels. 

About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries,  and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.