During the holiday season, there are simple ways make sure you and your loved ones stay healthy to enjoy the celebrations. Paying attention to hygiene is the best way to avoid contracting colds, infections or food poisoning. The last thing you want is a Sugar Land emergency health situation after a Christmas dinner feast. A few simple tips will help you spread joy and avoid germs this holiday season.
There is a greater risk of contracting an illness during the holidays because of increased exposure to germs. If you travel, restrooms, seating and other surfaces can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. Credit cards and money are handled by many people. Door handles, restaurant menus and remote controls in hotel rooms are common places where germs stick to surfaces and can be transferred simply by touching them.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the first line of defense is to keep your hands clean. Always wash your hands after using the restroom and before eating. When washing your hands is not practical as you are out and about, experts recommend keeping your hands away from your face to avoid transferring germs to mucous membranes. The eyes, nose and mouth consist of soft, moist tissues that allow germs to breed and multiply. Keeping your hands away from your face limits exposure to germs and reduces the risk of a Sugar Land emergency over the holidays.
There are more outbreaks of food poisoning from Christmas dinner than any other time of year. Food poisoning is not only unpleasant, it can be lethal. If you prepare turkey with stuffing, the temperature on a meat thermometer should be at least 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the bird. Undercooked meat can contaminate the stuffing.
Wash your hands before and after handling meat. Make sure all preparation surfaces are clean before using them. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for meats and vegetables to avoid cross-contamination. Although most people don’t expect food poisoning from fresh vegetables, it can happen if the vegetables are cut on a board after contaminated meat is prepared.
If you think you have contracted food poisoning, go to your nearest 24-hour Sugar Land emergency clinic as soon as possible for evaluation and treatment.
It is easy to overeat and drink too much during the holidays. Although indigestion can be a result of rich food, it is important to pay attention to pain, nausea or other physical ailments that may be symptoms of serious illness. At St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms, doctors are available 24-hours a day to handle emergencies from allergies to food poisoning. The St. Michael’s Sugar Land emergency room includes diagnostic equipment to evaluate your condition. Call St. Michael’s Emergency Room at 281-980-4357 for more information or to pre-register your patient information today!