Safety Moment: Holiday Safety & Health

Strategies for a Healthier Holiday Season

• Prioritize your health and safety to make the holidays more joyful. Take precautions to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe, healthy, and prepared to celebrate the holidays.
• To help stop the spread of germs, wash your hands frequently. The flu season is upon us. Spend at least 20 seconds washing your hands with soap and clean running water.
• To keep warm and dry, bundle up. Put on the proper outdoor attire, which includes waterproof boots, hats, gloves, scarves, and light, warm layers.
• Control your tension. If you’re feeling anxious, overburdened, and unmanageable, take a break. Finding support, making social connections, and getting enough sleep are some of the greatest strategies to deal with stress.
• Avoid drinking and driving or allowing others to do so. Everyone on the road is put in danger whenever someone drives while intoxicated. Make the decision not to drive after drinking and encourage others to follow suit.
• Don’t smoke. Steer clear of secondhand smoke and smoking. While tobacco usage puts smokers at higher risk for health problems, exposure to tobacco smoke also puts nonsmokers at risk.
• When operating a motor vehicle or riding in one, fasten your seat belt. Always use a seat belt, booster seat, or child safety seat for your kids in the car, depending on their age, weight, and height. No matter how brief the journey is, always buckle up and urge other travelers to follow suit.
• Obtain screenings and exams. Find out from your doctor what tests you require and when to receive them. Revisit your family and personal history.
• Obtain your immunizations. Vaccines save lives and help prevent disease. Every year, everyone six months of age and up should get a flu shot.
• Watch over kids. Keep food, beverages, household goods, toys, and other items out of children’s reach that could be harmful. Keep kids safe from potential dangers like falls, burns, and drowning.
• Take precautions against fires. Avoid leaving candles, space heaters, stovetop cooking, and fireplaces unattended as the majority of home fires happen in the winter. Make a plan for emergencies and rehearse it frequently.
• Safely prepare food. Keep in mind these easy steps: wash your hands and surfaces frequently, prevent cross-contamination, prepare food to the right temperature, and rapidly chill any leftovers.
• Eat well and exercise regularly. Consume nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables to help reduce your risk of developing certain illnesses. Eat fewer foods that are heavy in fat, salt, and sugar, as well as smaller portions. Be active for at least two and a half hours per week and encourage children and teenagers to be active for at least an hour every day.