If you plan on traveling this holiday season or spending more time with family and friends, follow these tips and precautions to stay safe and healthy this holiday season.
Travel by car instead of public transportation
If your holiday destination is drivable, try taking your personal vehicle instead of flying, taking the train, or bus. While this isn’t always doable, avoiding public transportation lowers your risk of contracting COVID-19 or other seasonal illnesses like the common cold or flu.
Wear a mask, wash your hands, and social distance
If you do take public transportation and are around others, try to stay 6 ft. apart, when possible, wear a mask until it is safe to remove it, and wash your hands often.
Get vaccinated
Before traveling or coming in close contact with family members, get your annual flu vaccine and COVID-19 shot to reduce infection.
Stay warm
If you live in an area with cooler fall and winter temperatures or plan on traveling to one, make sure you and your family have the appropriate amount of clothing to bundle up to lower your chances of getting sick.
Prepare food safely
Around the holidays, we tend to cook larger meals for our family. If you plan on cooking for others this holiday season, make sure you wash your hands before prepping food and cook meats for the appropriate amount of time. Also, make sure you are prepared for potential kitchen fires and have a fire extinguisher nearby.
Don’t drink and drive
If you know you will be consuming alcohol, prepare ahead of time by having a designated driver take you home or be prepared to call a Taxi or use a Ride Share app like Uber. Don’t let friends or family members drink and drive either.
Manage Holiday stress
The holidays can be stressful, whether it’s preparing Thanksgiving dinner or purchasing gifts for loved ones, try to manage stress as best as you can. When we are stressed, it makes it harder for our bodies to fight off infections. You can manage stress by getting enough sleep, meditating, doing something you love, and managing your time wisely.
Stay active and eat healthy
The best way to boost our immune system and stay healthy around the holidays is to exercise regularly and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables!
For more information on current CDC guidelines around traveling safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html