205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 08/25/2014 - Labor Day weekend in Ellensburg involves carnival rides, fair food, animals, and more. Over 75,000 people visit the Kittitas County Fair and the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) wants visitors and residents to enjoy as well as stay healthy.
If you will be serving or preparing delicious fair food, please complete your food handler class. Although fair food vendors are only required to have one person on site with a valid food worker card at all times, KCPHD encourages all people working with food to know about food safety. Food worker cards are available online at https://www.foodworkercard.wa.gov/ and cost $10.00 to complete. Washing hands for a full twenty seconds with running water and soap is the best way to avoid getting sick. Washing hands should be done after touching animals or their surroundings and before eating or drinking. Clean hands stop germs from spreading from one person to another Animals at the fair like sheep, poultry, and pigs can carry dangerous bacteria and viruses. An estimated half-million people in the U.S. get sick every year due to contact with animal exhibits. People can pick up bacteria and viruses by touching the animals and their surroundings. Pregnant women, older adults, children under five, and anyone with an underlying illness should be especially careful when around animals at the fair. For more information about staying safe around animals, visit http://www.doh.wa.gov/AboutUs/ProgramsandServices/EnvironmentalPublicHealth/EnvironmentalHealthSafetyandToxicology/ZoonoticDisease.aspx. Although Labor Day is the end of summer, the weather in Ellensburg can be hot. Please take precautions to avoid heat related illness. Drink lots of nonalcoholic beverages and do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may include muscle cramping, heavy sweating, weakness, and cold, pale, and clammy skin. If you observe these symptoms in yourself or others, make sure to move to a cooler location right away. Feeling feverish and hot, dry, red skin can be signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency – call 911 or find help right away. For more information about safety recommendations during the Kittitas County Fair, please contact the Kittitas County Public Health Department at (509) 962-7515.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Kasey Knutson, Public Information Officer, 509-962-7515