It’s no coincidence that the holiday season and flu season overlap. With holiday travel, holiday gatherings and holiday stress, the conditions are perfect for spreading joy — and spreading viruses.
Getting sick while you’re on the road stinks. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Read on for a refresher course in flu prevention and helpful hygiene habits. With a little planning — and a lot of handwashing — these seven easy steps may help you and your family usher in a healthy and happy new year.
- Get your flu vaccine. It only takes a few seconds to get vaccinated, and the protection lasts for months. Alabama Public Health recommends that everyone who is 6 months old and older get a flu vaccine every year. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which other vaccines are right for your family this winter.
- Wash your hands. One of the best ways to avoid getting sick is also one of the simplest: by using soap and water on your hands, early and often. Aim to lather up and scrub your hands together for at least 20 seconds to get rid of germs. For starters, be sure to wash your hands before and after eating; after using the toilet; after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; and after touching dirty surfaces or garbage. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your hands to your nose, mouth and eyes. This is an easy way to avoid spreading germs to yourself and to others. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean before and after doing so.
- Make healthy choices. Traveling can wreak havoc on your regular routine. That means you might have to make extra efforts to weave wellness-oriented habits into your holiday adventures, like eating nutritious foods, drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep, exercising and managing your stress. All of the above can help support a healthy immune system, which may stop the flu and other viruses in their tracks.
- Wear a mask. Mask mandates are long gone, but we’ve learned some valuable lessons. Namely, covering your face with an N95 or surgical mask creates a protective barrier from germs. If you’re going to be flying this holiday season or spending time in other tight quarters among crowds of people, consider masking up.
- Pack a travel health kit. No one wants to get sick while they’re on the road. But in case you do, it helps to be prepared. Take along your prescription medications as well as over-the-counter medicines for headaches and cold-like symptoms. In addition, pack masks, tissues, hand sanitizer and, of course, your health insurance card.
- Assess how you feel. Don’t shrug off any symptoms this holiday season. If you’re sniffly, sneezy or fatigued, you may have caught something. Drink lots of fluids, rest and isolate as much as you can. If you need to go out in public, wear a mask and maintain a safe distance from other people to avoid making them sick. If you have questions or concerns about your health, reach out to your doctor.
