Announcements in the July 15th Issue

In Summer, Beware of Food Poisoning!

To reduce the bacteria in your house that cause food poisoning,

please read and follow the following 3 steps:

1  Thoroughly wash your hands, dishes, and cooking appliances.

1. Before cooking or eating, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.  After washing your hands, be sure to dry them on a clean towel.

2.Thoroughly wash　any vegetables before eating them.

3.Keep any cooking utensils or silverware clean.

• After cutting meat or fish, thoroughly clean the knives and cutting board that you used, then disinfect them.

• Check any shopping bags that you use for liquid that may have leaked out from the food you bought.  If you find any, you should wash out the bags.

2  Be careful when it comes to preserving food.

1. When buying food, be sure to put food that needs to be chilled/frozen into the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible. 
2. Don’t put too much food into your freezer.  If you do, it will make it more difficult for the freezer to keep the temperature inside properly cold.
3. Put any leftover food in a small container and keep it in the fridge or freezer.

3  Be sure to cook food thoroughly.

The bacteria that cause food poisoning are affected by heat, as you can see on the chart to the right:

1. Be absolutely sure to cook meat before eating it.  If you heat the meat enough, the bacteria on it will die.  Cook the meat so that the center of the meat reaches over 75 degrees Celsius for over one minute.
2. When using a microwave, be sure to heat the food completely.
3. Bacteria have trouble increasing when inside the refrigerator, but they will not die, so please be careful.

Next are some True or False questions about avoiding food poisoning when you pack boxed lunches (bentos) in the summer.

Please answer with True (O) or False (X).

1  It is better to put food in the bento as soon as you finish cooking it.  If you make rice or other cooked foods, put them in the bento box immediately after you finish cooking them and close the lid.

True or False?

Answer:  False

The conditions for the bacteria that cause food poisoning to increase are… moisture, heat, and something for them to eat.  If you close the bento lid while the contents inside are still warm, that will cause the bacteria to increase.  Be sure to cool down any cooked food before you put it into the bento.  If you don’t have time to put the food in the fridge to cool it, then please use ice packs.

2 Mini tomatoes look most beautiful with the contrast of green and red, so when packing a lunch, you should leave the green stems on the tops of the tomatoes.

True or False?

Answer:  False

There may be bacteria living around the stem of the tomatoes.  You should remove the stems, wash and dry the tomatoes, and then pack them into the bento.

3  You don’t have a lot of time in the morning, so you can take the food you cooked yesterday out of the refrigerator and pack it into the bento just like that.

True or False?

Answer:  False

Even in the refrigerator or the freezer, it’s still possible for bacteria to increase.  So please be certain to heat the food up one more time, allow it to cool, then put it in the bento.

If you have any questions about this article, please contact the Hygiene and Sanitation Division.  Their phone number is 078-918-5426.  Their fax number is 078-918-5584.

 Even Indoors, Be on Guard Against Heatstroke

Summer has now begun, and heatstroke is a real problem.  There are many cases of people who have gotten heatstroke even while indoors.  Please be careful.

Even when indoors, be careful at any time when you’re away from the air conditioner.

                  For instance, when you’re in the bathroom, kitchen, or other parts of your home that don’t have an air conditioner, be careful.  You should also be careful when you’re washing the dishes or cleaning.

To prevent heatstroke:

• Drink water before you get thirsty.
• Put a little salt in the water or drink it while you eat some kind of salty food.
• Use a fan to create a breeze.
• When working, cool down the area around your neck.
• Use curtains to block the sunlight.
• Eat properly and get enough sleep every day.

Drink water all throughout the day.

Especially important times to drink water are as follows:

• When returning home from going outside.
• Before and after taking a bath.
• Before you go to bed and after you wake up.

If you have any questions about this article, please contact the Akashi Health Promotion Division.  Their phone number is 078-918-5657.  Their fax number is 078-918-5440.

Help Contribute to the Effort to Recycle Furniture and Electronics

1) You can buy recycled furniture

In Akashi City, furniture that has been recycled is available for sale.  Anyone is free to take a look at what’s for sale by going to the “Akashi Clean Center”.  The same furniture will stay on display in the showroom for two months.  The furniture that is on display right now will remain the same until Thursday, September 14^th.

The showroom is open every day except Sunday from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm.  It doesn’t cost anything to enter the showroom.

If you see furniture that you would like to buy, please make an application for it.  If multiple people apply for the same piece of furniture, the winner will be decided by a lottery.  If you win this lottery, you will be able to purchase the furniture.  The price of the furniture can be 500 yen, 1000 yen, or 1500 yen.

2) Try to help recycle small electronic devices.

“Small electronic devices” means all sorts of things, from cellular phones to computers.  Within these devices are different metals and other things that can be of use to people.  Akashi City is collecting those electronic devices that people are no longer using.

Next to some supermarket and public buildings are Small Electronics Collection Boxes (written as 小型家電回収ボックス).  Instead of just throwing away your electronics, try to dispose of them in these collection boxes.

If you have any questions about this article, please contact the Environmental Resources Division.  Their phone number is 078-918-5794.  Their fax number is 078-918-5793.

Notifications About the Coronavirus Vaccine

1) Who Can Receive the Vaccine?

The following people are eligible to be vaccinated:

1  Those who are 65 years of age or older, have already received their 1^st and 2^nd vaccinations, and received their last vaccination at least 3 months ago.

2   Those from ages 12 to 64 who meet one of the following criteria:

• Already have some sort of illness.
• Have been told by a doctor that they are at risk of serious issues if they catch the Coronavirus.
• Work in a hospital or clinic.
• Work in a job that involves caring for the elderly.

Anyone who does not fall under either 1 or 2 and is 12 years old or older will be able to receive the vaccine starting in September.

2) Ticket to Receive the Vaccine

Anyone who has already received their 1^st and 2^nd vaccination will be sent a vaccination ticket by Akashi City.  The ticket should be a light purple color.

If you are one of the people who must wait until September to receive your vaccine, please take good care of your ticket until then.

3) For Infants and Children up to 11 Years Old

Infants and children up to 11 years old can receive the vaccine at hospitals and clinics in Akashi City.

*Coronavirus Phone Numbers in Akashi City

• You can call these phone numbers any day of the week from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.

The phone number to make a reservation for a vaccination is 0120-227-710

You can also make a reservation using the following.

• The phone number if you want to consult with someone about Coronavirus-related issues is 0120-712-160.
• For those who are unable to talk on the phone, please send a fax.  Their fax number is 0120-655-695.