The holiday season is here and you’re probably thinking about all the tasty treats, family times, and wintery festivities! But to keep the caroling loud and jolly, you’ll want to ensure that the necessary precautions are made to keep the whole family healthy and safe for the holidays.
The early to mid-winter months can increase your risk of coming into contact with food and airborne allergens, as well as hazardous conditions from the cold weather. So what should you be doing to keep the joyful times safe and risk-free during the holidays?
Kitchen and food safety is paramount to prevent allergies and injuries
Everyone wants to bake their famous pie or cake and prepare their coveted Christmas dinners with all their fancy kitchen appliances. However, it is important to properly manage a kitchen during the holidays for several reasons.
Many holiday treats and desserts contain common food allergens such as nuts, dairy, and egg. To prevent an allergic reaction, make sure that all guests at a party or function are aware of any possible allergies. Have hypo-allergenic alternatives to prepared dishes as well to limit allergy risk. Simple hand washing and sanitation of cooking apparatuses.
In addition, a busy kitchen could lead to potential burn and cut injuries if the necessary safety precautions are not taken. Limit kitchen burns by wearing protective handwear like oven mitts when handling hot surfaces and dishes. Also, make sure that appliances are overseen by at least one person to reduce potential fires. Sharp cutlery should be handled carefully and stored properly to avoid cuts and lacerations.
Safely remove snow and ice to reduce injury risk
As winter rolls around, the chance of slipping and falling or experiencing frostbite increases. Safe removal of snow and ice can greatly reduce your risk of experiencing an injury.
It is important to pace yourself when removing heavy piles of snow as you could experience muscle strain or elevated physical stress. Take your time as needed to clear off snow and scrape ice as needed.
When outside, wear winter boots or another form of non-slip footwear to prevent slips and falls. Maintaining shovels and snow removal equipment also helps to maintain a safe pace when removing snow and ice.
If you experience an injury or illness during the holiday season, make sure you seek urgent care services unless it is a life-threatening emergency situation.
Just take the time to practice these safety and health tips to enjoy a merry holiday season!
