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It’s that time of year again – the annual Bloomsburg Fair is back. The 160th annual agricultural fair promises yet another year of family-friendly fun complete with horse races, the demolition derby, concerts, crafts, rides and, of course, lots and lots of food.

With all of the fun to be had at the fair, there are some potential risks to your health. Make sure you and the whole family stay healthy at the fair with these tips.

Watch what you eat

This may sound crazy, but you really should try to avoid or at least go very easy on fried foods at the fair, especially foods like deep fried Twinkies and “heart attack fries.” Your taste buds may get mad at you, but your heart and the scale will thank you.

Deep fried foods tend to be high in fat, including saturated fat and even trans fat. Not to mention they’re typically high in calories too. All of that is bad news for your cholesterol, heart health and weight.

That doesn’t mean you need to skip “bad” foods altogether. If you’re taking your family to the fair, try sharing foods that may not be so good for you, like funnel cake and fried pickles. By the way, it’s quite a stretch to count them as vegetables.

It’s OK to indulge a little bit while you’re at the fair this year, especially with all of the walking you’ll likely be doing. Take a look around at all of your options and decide what you’d like to treat yourself to – everything in moderation should be your philosophy. While an occasional indulgence is fine, you should avoid grazing at all of the food vendors, leave a few for next year.

You should also keep your eye out for healthy choices too (yes, there are healthy options at the fair). Look for fresh fruits, veggie gyros, salmon burgers, and fresh-squeezed fruit juices (hold the sugar).

Wash your hands

Plain and simple: keep your hands clean.

When you’re around a lot of people, touching surfaces, touching animals, you’re picking up germs and dirt. Keeping hands clean is one of the most important things you can do to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Thoroughly washing your hands with soap and running water will ensure you don’t get sick.

Washing your hands is especially important after using the bathroom and before eating anything.

Before you head to the fair, remember to pack an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in case you can’t get to a sink. While sanitizers don’t eliminate all types of germs, they can quickly reduce the number of germs on your hands.

Protect yourself from the sun

If you plan on attending the fair during the day, you should plan on protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Even if it’s not sunny out, you can still get a burn from the UV rays. Apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside.

And, speaking of the sun, there’s a chance it’s going to be hot at the fair, and we’re not just talking about the deep fryers. If it’s hot and humid out, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water – this type of weather increases your risk of dehydration and heat illnesses.

When the air is hot and humid, sweat can’t evaporate and cool you as quickly, leading to an increased body temperature and the need to take in more fluids. Seek out some shade or air conditioning for some breaks from the heat too.

Talk safety with your kids

With so many people expected to attend the fair this year, watching your kids’ every move can be tough. Before you go to the fair, talk to your kids about what to do in case you get separated from each other. Decide together on a spot to meet in case you get separated and make sure they know what the security guards look like and that they can help reunite with you.

Park far away

You may have no choice but to park far away – thousands are expected to attend the fair. Between walking throughout the fair and walking back and forth to your car, you’ll be burning calories and even improving your heart health.

Making healthy choices at the fair this year will ensure you not only have a great time, but stay healthy after you leave.

Alfred Casale To Your Health
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_casale3.jpg.optimal.jpgAlfred Casale To Your Health

By Alfred Casale

To Your Health

Dr. Alfred Casale is chairman of surgery for the Geisinger Heart Institute, co-director of the Cardiovascular Service Line for the Geisinger Health System and Associate Chief Medical Officer for the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Readers may write to him via [email protected].