How to Protect Yourself during the Holiday Season

It's that time of year again! As the holiday season nears, some unwelcome visitors drop by - viruses that tend to overstay their welcome.

Sick in bed is a terrible place to be during the holiday season, especially since you only have to take a few simple precautions to stay healthy.

1. The single best defence against illness is keeping your hands clean, either through hand-washing or with hand-sanitizer. Wash or sanitize your hands before you eat or touch your face and after using the washroom. Remind your family member and friends about the importance of hand-washing to stay healthy themselves and to keep healthy.
2. There's nothing like the Christmas season for sharing treats and Christmas baking (bowls of chips, nuts, cookies, squares and finger food etc.). Shared trays are breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses - you may be sharing more than you thought!
3. If you develop symptoms - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea - inform your family member of area that will require immediate cleaning. Stay at home to avoid spreading the virus to others. You must remain at home until 48 hours after the last symptom.
4. Monitor your family member carefully for the symptoms mentioned above. Family member who become ill should be isolated immediately with one dedicated washroom.
5. Encourage your family member who are going to visitor friends for the weekend to check to ensure no one is ill. If you know your friend is ill, staying at home for the weekend might be a wise option.