When going home from college during winter break it is important to keep ourselves along with friends and family healthy. During the cold months of the year, it is essential to practice safety measures to reduce sickness. The CDC highlights “12 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday Season” and I am going to touch upon the measures I believe are most important to try to follow.
The first healthy choices are in regards to preventing illness. During winter break, the temperature reaches freezing degrees and it is also flu season. Hands must be washed often to decrease the germs being spread. Also, it is important to wear coats outside and try to stay as warm as possible to prevent yourself from catching a cold.
Another topic during the holidays that affects people’s health is the use of substances like alcohol and tobacco. It is important to try to avoid smoking to protect yourself from severe health risks and those around you from secondhand smoke. Also, the use of alcohol should be in moderation, and driving drunk should not occur. Drunk driving possess a danger to everyone in the car and others on the road. Drunk driving can be avoided 100% of the time and safe means of transportation should be used.
When going home for the holidays it is important to check in with your primary care provider. Winter break is a good time to catch up on vaccinations to reduce the risk and spread of illness. Also, getting physical exams and personal screenings are essential to catch sickness and disease early on to get treated.
The last topic I am going to discuss is in regards to food. Making dinner is a big part of the holidays for many families and safety precautions are necessary when cooking. It is important to practice fire safety when using ovens to cook and to keep little children away from the flames to prevent accidental burns. When preparing the food it is important to wash your hands before preparing and to cook food to the correct temperature to prevent food poisoning. Finally, the most important part is to remember to eat healthy foods and stay active.
Overall, the holidays should be a fun time to go home and see your loved ones. It is important to remember the safety measures you can take to keep your friends and family safe during the holiday season.
References
CDC. 12 Ways to Have a Healthy Holiday Season. (2019, December 10). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/holidayseason/index.html
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