COLUMBUS, Ohio –
Most of us spend the winter months trying to avoid cold, flu and stomach viruses that make the
rounds each year. The holiday season is a particularly hard time to avoid these ailments. While
in the throes of holiday preparations, we may get less sleep, make unhealthy meal choices or skip
the gym. This leaves us a little more vulnerable to catching a respiratory or gastrointestinal bug.
The biggest vulnerability, however, lies with the mucous membranes that line the eyes, nose and
mouth. They are the portals through which all of these germs travel.
The most effective way to battle these microscopic organisms is to avoid touching the eyes, nose
and mouth and to wash your hands properly. And, not a coincidence, December 3-9 is also National
Handwashing Awareness Week. Be resilient and outsmart these illnesses by knowing when and how to
wash your hands. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information.
Please share this information with your loved ones, especially children. They frequently need to
be reminded to wash hands before eating, after using the bathroom or when they come inside from
playing. It will save a trip to the doctor’s office and keep the whole family healthier!
Make it an enjoyable holiday season!