JACKSBORO, Texas (Dec 15, 2022) – The sounds of the holiday season are always wonderful. The caroling, the crackling fireplace and the jingling bells are all signs of the Christmas season. But sometimes another more harrowing sound rises to alarm the ears. That is the sound of an ambulance siren blaring as someone is whisked off to the hospital following an emergency.
That’s why It is extra important to keep health and safety in mind as you carry out your holidays so that you won’t miss the opportunity to get together with loved ones.
Staying healthy over the holidays is actually not as much of a challenge as it may seem to be. According to Erica Crutcher, Family Practice at FCHS “Maintaining holiday health usually revolves around keeping stress levels down and staying physically active.” Basically, She further explained, “this means getting plenty of exercise and guarding against overeating and excessive alcohol consumption.” But doing these important things alone won’t let you off the hook. “Health and safety during the holidays also means adhering to certain precautions around the home and surroundings to cut down on the possibility of risk,” Crutcher added.
Faith Community Health System recommends the following steps to enjoying the holidays while maintaining mind and body health as well as keeping home and surroundings safe:
Staying in the holiday spirit
Get adequate sleep. Lack of sleep also leads to anxiety and may also cause physical ailments. Not getting enough sleep can also contribute to accidents around the house and on the road.
Create an exercise plan. Try to fit in at least 150 minutes of physical exercise each week, especially exercise that makes the heart beat faster like taking a brisk walk or jog around the neighborhood. Riding a bike once or twice a week is also good. If you belong to a gym, you can use the aerobic equipment or swim in the pool.
Practice moderation in eating and drinking alcohol. Go for a balanced diet of fruit, whole grains, and vegetables. Keep red meat to a minimum and, even though it’s the holidays go slow with the sugary desserts and snacks.
Keep home and surroundings safe
- If your tree is artificial make sure it is labeled “fire resistant.” Place a live tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators, and other sources of heat.
- Inspect both indoor and outdoor lights for broken sockets, frayed wires, and loose connections.
- Don’t overload outlets with too many electrical devices.
- Turn off decorations when going to bed or leaving the house.
- Never leave candles or fireplaces burning unattended. Likewise, don’t leave the fireplace burning unattended.
- Wash your hands frequently when cooking food.
- Keep raw meat separate from cooked food.
Holiday Tips for Healthy Mind and Body
“Although we may try to stay safe and enjoy the festivities, accidents can still happen so just be sure to keep health and safety in mind whatever you are doing,” Crutcher advised. While we at Faith Community Health System enjoy serving you throughout the year, we’d rather you spend the holiday time with loved ones than here in our facility. Yet, if you need our services, we’ll be here.
