Avoiding H1N1 This Holiday
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| Anne Kelly |
| 11/20/2009 |
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| In less than a week family and friends will gather for Thanksgiving. With them they`ll bring lots of food, even more hugs, and possibly, swine flu. The CDC estimates 22 million people have already come down with the H1N1 virus. We all expect to gain a little weight over the holidays... Won`t, however, plan on picking up H1N1. And if everyone agrees to be extra hygienic this Thanksgiving the flu doesn`t have to spread like holiday cheer. This Thanksgiving when everyone gathers to cut the turkey. It`s also crucial to take steps to cut the spread of H1N1. "You`re going to be shaking hands, giving hugs to people," says Jodi Barnum, the director of infection control at Medcenter. "People eat out of the same bowl, they make take a spoonful `Oh that tastes pretty good, you taste,` and they`ll taste out of the same spoon," says Janice Martin, the owner of Lady J`s Catering. All one big recipe for spreading germs. Add that to the fact that our immune systems are often being challenged this time of year. "There`s more stress probably during the holiday season," says Barnum. "We`ve very busy, we`re not getting enough sleep." And Thanksgiving might not leave us with much to be thankful for this season. But before you give up and give in to getting sick next week, Martin says there are a lot of ways people can be more hygienic, and in turn, healthier. "Make sure people wash their hands and sanitize before they go through a buffet line," says Martin. She says it`s not a bad idea to put hand sanitizer at the beginning of the food line. It means there won`t be contaminated hands grabbing at serving utensils that everyone is touching. "We`re always very conscious to not let serving utensils fall into the food," says Martin. "That`s why we provide plates and things on the table for people to put their utensils on instead of setting inside the schafers." Another tip from Martin is to put spoons and tongs in every serving dish, including appetizers. She says most people will use serving utensils for food like chips, if given the chance. And of course, the best piece of advice, wash your hands. And wash them again. Before you eat. After you eat. And whenever else you get the chance. And of course it never hurts to remind family and friends the flu is going around, and that everyone should take steps to protect each other. |
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