This week’s Do 1 Thing tip continues with food preparation. Take steps to make sure food in your refrigerator and freezer will stay safe.

During an extended power outage, temperatures in your fridge and freezer will begin to rise, even if the doors stay closed. As the temperature rises, harmful bacteria may begin to grow on your food.

If the temperature in your fridge stays above 41 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours, perishable food items (milk, lunch meat, mayonnaise based salads, poultry items, leftovers, etc) may be unsafe to eat.

If this temperature stays above 40 degrees for more than one or two days, food may be unsafe to eat. Food that still contains ice crystals should be safe. Always check the color and odor of food, particularly meat when it is thawed. If it is questionable throw it out (make sure it is discarded where animals can’t get to it).

Take steps now to make sure your perishable food remains as safe as possible. Install a thermometer in your fridge and freezer. If you anticipate a power outage, such as a winter storm, reduce the temperature of your fridge and freezer. The colder the food is the more time it takes to thaw. If you don’t know the temperature of your fridge or if the fridge was off more than four hours, the food should be discarded. Eating perishable food that has not been kept cold can cause food poisoning, even if it is refrozen or cooked. When in doubt, throw it out.

With the warmer weather and longer days, people are out and about longer every day. This includes criminals. Niles City Police report about 6 car break-ins over a weekend. Other crimes such as breaking and entering, home invasions, and personal crimes are more likely to increase with the summer months approaching.

Simple crime prevention tips can keep you and your property safe. Keep all valuables locked and out of sight in your vehicle, or take them inside your residence. Lock your vehicle doors, even if it’s parked in your garage. Inventory your property and write down the serial numbers and take photos of the property. Keep this information in a safe place.

Keep your residence doors and windows locked. There are very inexpensive alarms that can be attached to doors and windows that aren’t locked or can’t be locked properly.  Inventory all property and photograph this. Keep this information in a safe place.

When you are out and about, BE AWARE. Know what’s going on around you, especially if you are out and night time. When out at night, stay in groups, keep your cell phone charged, and be aware of your surroundings.

On May 1, 2014, at the Niles Law Enforcement Complex, 1600 Silverbrook Ave., Niles, I will be hosting a Community Bicycle Safety for Law Enforcement Training. It is for civilians also.

There is a legal portion, discussing bicycle laws that we enforce and for the civilians, it explains the legal way to ride your bike. There is a section of engineering and one on education.

The four-hour morning block of classroom instruction costs $25. There is a three hour afternoon session for bicycle rodeo training which costs $15. If you want to take both sessions, it is only $35 for the whole day’s program. If you are a leader for a bike group, a leader who discusses safety, or are just interested in the bicycle laws, join us. Contact me for further information on registration.

 

Rob Herbstreith is a Michigan State Police trooper. Questions or comments can be emailed to TrooperRob53@yahoo.com