After another challenging year, it’s time to enjoy the festive season, which includes getting together with family and friends.
But while it’s natural to want to relax a little, we all want to have a safe festive season too. So follow our tips for a safe festive season to ensure you enjoy the celebrations without putting yourself or your loved ones at risk.
1. Stay safe from infection
While we’ve come a long way from the early days of the pandemic, the coronavirus and other infections are still at the forefront of our minds.
It’s always good to recap on the advice about staying safe from infection and protecting others too. Here’s what experts recommend:
- Get into a good hand hygiene routine. This starts with washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use a hand sanitiser spray or gel in between handwashing. Keeping a hand sanitiser dispenser in a place where you can easily access it will remind you to do this.
- Use a face mask according to the current rules in your area or if you are going to crowded places.
- When you sneeze or cough, make sure you cover your mouth over with your bent elbow or a tissue. Throw your tissue away if using one and wash your hands immediately.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces in your home regularly.
- Get vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Practise social distancing if you are mixing with people you don’t live with.
- Know the common symptoms of COVID-19. These include a fever, a new continuous cough or loss of your sense of smell or taste. Keep a thermometer at home so you can check if you suspect household members have a fever (a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or over).
2. Understand the rules about socialising
The pandemic is still a rapidly-changing situation, which means that the rules can change quickly.
To keep up-to-date on the latest restrictions, it’s best to keep checking the rules in your area.
If you’re planning a gathering over the holiday season, consider holding it outside where the risk of infection is lower than indoors. You can choose from lots of options like a sit-down meal in your back garden, a barbecue or meeting up in a park or on the beach for a picnic and some outdoor activities.
The weather is perfect for outdoor gatherings, so make the most of it!
3. Know your food hygiene
Food plays a central role in many celebrations, so if you’re preparing a meal, make sure you understand food hygiene rules. Here are the basics:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food and after touching raw food too.
- Ensure your working area is clean and disinfected.
- Use different chopping boards for ready-to-eat and raw foods.
- Store raw food separately from cooked and ready-to-eat foods.
- Make sure your fridge is set to the right temperature – it should be below 5 degrees Celsius, ideally at 3 degrees
- When cooking meat, make sure it is cooked thoroughly. You can check by using a meat thermometer.
4. Be alcohol aware
You may be more likely to consume alcoholic drinks during the festive season. As long as you are careful to follow a few simple rules, this should be no problem. Here are some tips to help you drink alcohol safely:
- Decide beforehand how many drinks you can manage safely, and stick to your limit.
- Make sure you eat before you start drinking alcohol.
- Have a soft drink or water in between alcoholic drinks.
- Have a plan to get home safely.
5. Be prepared for minor accidents
However careful you are over the holidays, sometimes minor accidents happen.
Stay safe this festive season by keeping a first aid kit available in case you need it.
Knowing how to carry out basic first aid is also a great idea. It will give you the confidence to deal with any minor mishaps with ease.
Keeping you covered this holiday season
You can stay safe this festive season by following a few simple tips such as practising hand hygiene steps, observing social distancing, eating and drinking sensibly and having a first aid kit to hand should you need it.
Knowing that you are prepared will help you relax and make the most of this very special time of year.
Stock up on health and safety supplies such as hand sanitiser, face masks, thermometers and other fever products in the FeverMates online store. We’ve got everything to keep you covered this Christmas season…and well into the New Year too!