Stay Safe This Holiday Season

The last quarter of the year is full of celebrations and gatherings.  It’s a great time to enjoy family and friends, celebrate, and to reflect and be grateful for the blessings we all enjoy.   However, with the varied, hectic schedules, weather changes, financial crunch, many social gatherings with an emphasis on sweets and treats, it can also be a time where our health takes a back seat.  Don’t let that happen to you!  Here are some tips compiled from the CDC and WebMD to help you and yours have a happy and safe holiday season.

 

 

PERSONAL

  • Wash your hands often. 
  • Dress for the weather.  Especially infants and older adults are more prone to illness as the weather cools. 
  • Manage Stress.  Be aware of your time and financial commitments and do not overextend yourself.  Get support from family and friends.  Consider dividing tasks for large family or social gatherings.    For more information see our article “Lower Your Stress With Time Management”.    https://www.tnchiro.com/articles/lower-your-stress-with-time-management/
  • Do not smoke.  If you are a smoker, stopping would be an excellent gift to yourself and your family this year.  And it frees up money to spend on the fun of the season!
  • Make wise choices for diet and exercise.  It’s ok to splurge and have a little piece of Grandma’s famous pecan pie – but use portion control.  Rather than fill your plate to the point of breaking, take smaller serving sizes or make the decision to only eat a few items.  Exercise during the holidays doesn’t have to mean sweating in the gym alone.  Dance with friends and family.  Sign up for a turkey trot or other holiday themed walk/run.  Even during the holidays, kids and teens need an hour a day of activity and adults need at least 2 ½ hours per week. 
  • Get check-ups.  Have you had your vision and dental visits this year?  Are you getting adjusted by your chiropractor regularly?

  

SAFETY AT HOME

  • Watch the kids at home.  It’s easy for children to get wrapped up in the excitement of the season and not pay attention to their surroundings, making them more prone to injury.  If you have young children, choose decorations carefully.    Avoid extremely fragile items.  Consider a barrier or safety gate to prevent children from accessing certain areas.
  • Take precautions to prevent injuries.  Did you know approximately 1,300 people are treated each year in emergency departments for injuries related to holiday lights and another 6,200 are treated for injuries related to holiday decorations and Christmas trees?  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), holiday lights cause about 510 fires each year. More than $170 million in property losses was attributed to candles with about one-sixth of the fires started by candles occurring in December.  No one wants to spend the holiday nursing an injury.  Use stable stepstools when climbing to decorate.  Get help when you need it.  Choose your decorations and their placement wisely.  Be especially careful with candles, lighting you don’t regularly use, fireplaces and other area heaters, especially around drapes or other flammable surfaces.  Inspect electrical wires as you decorate and discard any that are frayed or cut.    If you don’t have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector(s) in your home, or if you forgot to change the batteries with the time change, this is a great time to do it! 
  • Use extra caution when young children or pets will be around your decorations.  Avoid fragile items and décor that may be mistaken for food or place them in an area that will not be accessible to children or pets.
  • Be careful with your food.  Wash your hands and prep areas frequently.  Allow time for the food to cook to the proper temperature.  Put perishable food up in a timely manner.  Don’t leave food out for an excessive time without refrigerating it.
  • Know the number for your local poison control.  Many holiday plants are poisonous. Some decorations like spray snow are also toxic.  Use non-toxic items when available, and always use caution especially around children and pets. 

  

SAFETY AWAY FROM HOME

  • Travel safely. Whether grandma’s house is down the street or across the country, make good choices and be safe when traveling.  Buckle up in the car.  Don’t stack gifts to block the driver’s line of sight.  Don’t drink and drive.  Leave the texting to the passengers.  Regardless of your mode of travel, allow plenty of time.  There will be added traffic on the roads and in the airports – plan for it.   For more information see our article “Summer Travel Aches and Strains Can be a Pain in the Back”. 
  • Be careful shopping!  Approx. 21,000 children age 5 and under are treated in emergency departments for injuries associated with shopping carts each year.  Escalators, common in shopping malls, are involved in another 6000 injuries each year.  With stores being more crowded, there’s less room to maneuver making it more vital to be alert.    For more tips on safe shopping, see our article “Holiday Shopping Shouldn’t Be A Pain“.
  • Be watchful when shopping with children.  Keep younger children secured in a stroller or cart.  Hold their hand when in a crowd.  As early as possible, teach them to go to a store clerk if you are separated.  Also teach them your name and phone number.  If you have a child prone to running off, take a quick pic of them as you go into the store so you have a current picture with the clothes they are wearing that day for reference. 
  • Don’t be an easy target for violent crime.  Be attentive to your surroundings.  Park in well-lit areas and take note of where your vehicle is.    Lock your doors and hide packages.  Have keys ready when you go out.  Report any suspicious activity and don’t hesitate to ask for a security guard or manager to accompany you to your car.

 

Above all, take time with friends and family to relish the season.  We have many blessings in life and this is a great time of year to reflect on that.  Be safe and enjoy!