Sports fans, you have to pay attention to food safety when tailgating, because bacteria can knock you down harder than a 300-pound linebacker. The basic idea: Keep hot things hot and cold things cold. When outdoors on a warm day, this takes a little work.

• Before packing food in the cooler, thoroughly chill any prepared food that needs to be kept cold, such as dips, salads or drinks. Pre-chilling will help the food stay cold. Pack plenty of ice around the items. Make sure containers are sealed against any melting ice, or enclose containers in resealable plastic bags.

• When you arrive, make sure these items stay cold. Either keep in the cooler, removing briefly for serving, or nestle the food in an ice bed made from a foil pan or trash bag.

• If transporting raw meat, make sure it's in a heavy resealable plastic bag and placed in the deepest, coldest part of a separate cooler, with plenty of ice.

• When serving, keep an eye on the clock. Don't leave prepared food out on a hot day, even on ice, for more than a couple of hours.

• If you're eyeing leftovers for a post-game snack, be sure they were not left out for more than a couple of hours, and that they were repacked in plenty of ice. Check that the ice has not melted and that the items have remained thoroughly chilled. If in doubt, stick to the chips for snacking.

Have a great game plan
The top tailgaters, like the best athletes, are prepared for game day. Plan ahead to make the day run smoothly.

• Pack a large plastic tub with basic disposable items you'll need for every game, such as paper plates, paper towels, aluminum foil, cups, napkins and plastic forks. Keep the tub in the back of the car or in the garage for the season, and replenish the supplies as needed.

• Take along several trash bags. You can't have too many. They can be used not just for cleanup, but for such things as making ice beds for food that needs to be served chilled.

• Disposable aluminum foil pans are useful as well. They can hold food waiting to be cooked or prepared food, and can be used for making ice beds.

• Carry a cleanup kit with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. If you plan to do serious cooking of meat on site, carry disposable latex gloves and dishwashing detergent and water for washing.

• Bring ice, ice and more ice, especially to those warm early-season games. If you're carrying raw meat, place it in a separate, labeled cooler to prevent cross-contamination. Designate another clean cooler solely for ice for beverages, and keep cooked foods in a third cooler.

• If you'll be preparing food on site, bring along color-coded cutting boards, such as a red board strictly for raw meat and a green board for veggies only. Bring separate, labeled knives as well. You don't want to be responsible for any of your fellow fans spending the game in the ER with food poisoning.

• Don't forget the hardware: bottle opener, can opener and corkscrew, plus flashlights or battery-powered lanterns for night games.

• Pack a first-aid kit with insect repellent, bandages, sunscreen and antibacterial cream for cuts. Just in case someone gets klutzy.