Thanksgiving is the start of a busy holiday season. From purchasing the ingredients to serving a feast to your closest friends and family, there’s a lot to think about! Unfortunately, a lot of people fail to think about their own health in the midst of it all. Taking a few simple precautions can make the difference between a healthy Thanksgiving or a not-so-healthy Thanksgiving. Follow these tips to avoid seasonal illnesses and the flu this holiday season! 

Personal Hygiene 

Personal hygiene habits are the most important factor when it comes to preventing the flu and COVID-19. You can practice good personal hygiene habits by washing your hands frequently, keeping hand sanitizer within reach, and avoiding unnecessary face touching. If you’re attending a large gathering, experts recommend wearing a mask and socially distancing as much as possible. Encourage others to focus on their personal hygiene habits during this time of year too! 

Vaccines 

The easiest thing you can do to lower your risk of getting sick with the flu or COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. vaccines are easy to get at your local urgent care center, are covered by most insurance companies, and offer great protection against these harmful viruses. Anyone over 6 months of age is eligible for a flu vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for people ages 12 and older. If everyone who’s able to get vaccinated does, those who can’t get vaccinated will be better protected during Thanksgiving celebrations. 

Food Safety 

You might not think of foodborne illnesses as a seasonal illness, but Thanksgiving would prove you wrong! Many families have their Thanksgiving meal in a buffet style. While this might make for easier serving, it also increases the risk of foodborne illnesses and food poisoning. Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot this Thanksgiving. A little added convenience is not worth the risk of getting all of your guests sick! 

Using proper hygiene methods during the food preparation process will limit the spread of bacteria too. That means thoroughly washing surfaces, utensils, and cutting boards between different types of food. If the same knife that was used to cut raw meat comes into contact with other foods your preparing, you might end up with a serious case of food poisoning on your hands. Use a food thermometer to check your turkey and other hot dishes to ensure they’ve reached a safe temperature before serving them. 

Visit your local urgent care center today to kick off your Thanksgiving festivities in a healthy way! An urgent care center can provide you with a COVID-19 vaccine, flu vaccine, COVID-19 testing, and treatment for any seasonal illnesses you develop.