Keep food, water safe when enjoying the outdoors

EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services reminds people to stay safe while enjoying the outdoors this summer. 

Never assume water from lakes, streams, rivers or springs is safe to drink. The water may contain bacteria, viruses and parasites that could make you sick. People with weaker immune systems, such as young children, pregnant women and older adults, may be at higher risk of illness after consuming untreated water.

Avoid getting sick when using water: 

• Use water that is safe for human consumption, such as purchased bottled water or water from drinking water systems approved by Alberta Environments and Protected Area or Environmental Public Health.
• Filtering, boiling and certain chemicals might make water from lakes, streams rivers or springs safe to drink. Learn more.

Foodborne illness (also called food poisoning) is an illness you can get by eating or drinking foods or beverages that have harmful germs in them.

Avoid getting sick when preparing and eating food:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling raw meat.
• If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer or alcohol-based hand wipe that contains at least 60 per cent ethyl alcohol or isopropanol.
• Clean and sanitize all utensils and surfaces immediately after coming into contact with raw meat.
• Wash all fruit and vegetables under clean running water before you eat them. 
• When storing and cooking foods:
  • Keep cold foods cold. Pack perishable foods in a cooler with ice or freezer packs to keep the temperature of the items below 4 C. 
  • Always cook meats until the internal temperature has reached a safe temperature, measured with a meat thermometer.
  • Never use the same plate or utensils for cooked foods and raw/uncooked meats.  

Store food in durable airtight containers to help keep pests and animals away. It’s recommended to never bring food into your tent or sleeping areas. Learn more about packing food for the backcountry. 

Common symptoms of foodborne or untreated water-related illnesses include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Some illnesses can cause a high fever and blood in your stool. Most of the time, illnesses are mild and go away after a few days. Drink plenty of fluids and rest. If you are not getting better or have severe vomiting and/or diarrhea, contact your healthcare provider or call Health Link at 811. 

If you have or suspect you have a foodborne illness, report it. Contact Health Link at 811, visit AHS.ca/eph or call 1-833-476-4743. A public health Inspector may contact you to get information that will help prevent others from getting sick. 

Alberta Health Services provides a range of healthcare services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide excellent, patient-focused healthcare that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.