Learn how not to spread germs during the holiday with a few easy tips. Once you know the best hygiene practices, you can take measures to remain healthy during the holidays.
Follow Easy Tips on How Not to Spread Germs During the Holidays
If you'll be with other family members during the holiday season, you can use COVID-19 basic guidelines for social distancing. A quick rundown on what to do is a good refresher for anyone attending a holiday party or dinner.
Tip 1: Make a Holiday Mask
The CDC (Centers for Disease and Prevention) guidelines for COVID-19 offer ways to prevent the spreading of the highly contagious virus. The CDC advises to wear a mask when you are out and about. You can make a holiday mask for your family to wear during the holiday season. By choosing a fun Christmas pattern for the masks, family members may be inspired to wear them with less complaints. This will protect everyone, while adding a touch of holiday festive cheer!
Tip 2: COVID-19 Patients Should Take Precautions During Holidays
If you have COVID-19 and are in quarantine during the holidays, you can order your gifts online, choose the gift wrap option, and send to your loved ones. Santa can deliver gifts your gifts. You can livestream the opening of presents with your family on Christmas day, with Skype, Zoom or FaceTime and eating your dinner when your family does.
Tip 3: Hand-Washing Is Important Preventative Method
Anytime you wash your hands, you should use warm water and soap. The CDC advises to wash your hands for a full 20 seconds to ensure you wash away all the germs. Over the holidays, you want to be mindful of continuing this practice.
- Wash your hands when you first arrive at the holiday celebration.
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Wash your hands after the meal.
- Wash your hands when you return home.
- Wash your hands before and after wrapping presents.
- Wash your hands after handling packages delivered to your home.
Tip 4: Avoid Touching Your Face to Prevent Spreading Germs
The most important thing you don't want to do when trying to prevent the spreading of germs is to touch your face. This is an almost impossible directive since the average person touches their face 23 times per hour! When opening presents, avoid touching your face. Use a hand sanitizer after the gift is opened or wash your hands at the end of activity.
Tip 5: Wear Disposable Gloves and Using Sanitizer Wipes
You can reduce the spread of germs by wearing disposable gloves whenever you handle the mail, such as opening Christmas cards or receiving package deliveries. You can also use no-contact food delivery services when ordering take out. When shopping in a grocery store or other store where you must push a shopping cart, wearing disposable gloves will keep your hands germ free, especially when touching packages, cans, and various grocery items others have touched before you.
Use Sanitizer Wipes to Stop the Spread of Germs During the Holidays
You can also use sanitizer wipes for the shopping cart handle. Before getting into your vehicle, remove the gloves and dispose of them in a plastic trash bag. You can use sanitizer wipes to clean cans and packaged foods when unpacking your groceries. Once finished, be sure to wash your hands.
Tip 6: Bow Out of Holiday Celebrations When Sick
With the appearance of COVID-19, many people have recognized how important it is to stay home when sick. It is perhaps the best way to prevent the spread of germs. This is especially true when attending a family holiday celebration. Give your regrets and stay home to prevent spreading germs to the rest of your family and/or friends.
Tip 7: Cover Coughing and Sneezing
When you cough or sneeze, you need to protect others. The best way is to cough or sneeze into a tissue and afterwards, throw the tissue into the trash and wash your hands. If you don't have a tissue handy, the CDC advises to cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper arm. Wash or sanitize your hands immediately afterwards. The holiday season is often when people catch a cold or the flu. If you practice covering a sneeze or cough, you can prevent the spread of germs during the holiday season. Below is the CDC's official poster for how to stop the spread of germs when sneezing or coughing. You can download it using Adobe to print should you wish.
Tip 8: Don't Share Things (Including Food)
It is easy to find yourself sharing certain items with other people. This is especially true during the holiday rush, when you're trying to get ready for a family gathering or a party. You might not have the right shade of lipstick or you need to repair your hairdo and grab a friend's lipstick or brush. These are items you shouldn't share. Other items include towels, drinks, eye makeup, face powder, eyedrops, toothbrush, comb, cell phones, and anything that you've used near or on your face. You should also avoid communal food, such as common chip bowl or a buffet. Instead, serve all food, drink, and munchies individually portioned.
Tip 9: Sleep, Exercise, Eat Right, and Take Vitamins
The best way to avoid spreading germs during the holidays is to keep your immunity built up. This means you need to get plenty of sleep, healthy foods, two hours of physical activity a week, and take supplemental vitamins (including vitamin D). When you are healthy, your resistance to germs is optimum and your body is better equipped to fight off infections.
Tip 10: Reduce Daily Stress Factors
Stress can destroy your immune system and health factor, and the holidays are a stressful time. Find ways to reduce your daily stress level through physical exercise, meditation, and other outlets and practices.
How You Can Avoid Spreading Germs During the Holidays
You can avoid spreading germs during the holidays when you take precautionary steps. Common sense and good hygiene practices can ensure you and your family have a healthy holiday season.
