Photo courtesy of the SC State Fair.

The 149th annual S.C. State Fair will soon be open (October 10-21) and attendees of all ages will once again enjoy funnel cakes, live music, and amusement rides. To help ensure you enjoy your time at the fair, listed below are a few health tips to keep in mind while strolling beneath the neon lights of the Midway.

Always Wash Your Hands

When

• Before eating and drinking
• Before and after visiting animal exhibits
• After using the restroom
• After playing a carnival game
• After going on a ride

How

• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if running water is not available.

“Keeping hands clean is one of the most important things we can do to stop the spread of germs and stay healthy.” (CDC, 2017)

Things to Avoid

• Don’t take food or drinks into animal exhibits.
• Don’t eat, drink, or place anything in your mouth while visiting animal exhibits.
• Don’t take toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, or strollers into animal exhibits.
• Don’t enter animal exhibits if you are experiencing any type of illness, particularly flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat).
• Avoid close contact with any animals who appear ill.

Things to Remember

• Eat ‘hot’ foods while they are still hot and eat ‘cold’ foods while they are still cold.
• Take extra care to observe these health tips when visiting animal exhibits to prevent diarrheal illness and other infections that animals may carry. This is particularly important for certain groups, including:

• Children younger than 5 years of age
• Adults 65 years and older
• Pregnant women
• People with long-term health conditions such as, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, weakened immune systems, and neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions

• Seek medical attention if you develop a fever accompanied with cough and/or sore throat, diarrhea, and/or vomiting within several days after visiting the fair.

Following these tips will help prevent infections.  Have fun!

 Resources

Center for Disease Control Food Safety at Fairs and Festivals

KNOW How to be Safe Around Animals

Take Action to Prevent the Spread of Flu Between Pigs and People

Wash Your Hands