Happy Holidays!

Time for family gatherings, friends, food, shopping and yes, even stress.

The Monterey County Health Department wishes you and yours a very happy holiday season.

In song...the 12 Ways to Health - Click here

Twelve Days - Twelve tips for you! English and in Spanish

To help you keep your holidays healthy we are sharing information about various issues.

To start - lets talk about food safety. Dinners, potlucks, lunches, snacks... the holidays bring us food, it is important to think about keeping food safe.

Food Safety Tips for a Safe and Healthy Holiday Season

To keep your family and friends well this holiday season, please remember to follow food safety guidelines. The majority of food borne illness stems from inadequate handwashing, cross contamination, improper cooking, heating and cooling Read more

Even more information available at www.holidayfoodsafety.org

Parties often come with alcohol

Drinking and driving do not mix.

Help ensure everyone’s safety this holiday season:

Designate a sober driver before celebrations begin.
Never serve those under the age of 21 alcohol.
Plan safe parties, including providing non-alcoholic drink options to guests & not serving alcohol the last hour of the gathering
Be prepared to get everyone home safe in case your plans or individual circumstances change

For more information about driving safety

Managing diabetes during the holidays

Having diabetes shouldn't stop you from enjoying holiday celebrations and travel. With some planning and a little work, you can stay healthy on the road and at holiday gatherings with friends and family.

The most important step in managing diabetes during holiday travel and festivities is preparing. Know what you'll be eating, how to enjoy a few traditional favorites while sticking with a healthy meal plan, and how to pack necessary supplies for a trip, and you're all set to celebrate!

Talk to your health care provider and check out the CDC's webpage for more information.

Just for Kids!

Just for you, 12 days of tips from www.kids.gov.

Click here for your tips

Five Tips for Choosing Safe Toys this Holiday

Teddy_Bear_2 No one chooses gifts with the intent to harm, but some popular children’s toys can cause serious eye injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 250,000 toy-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms each year, and and almost half of these injuries affect the head or face – including the eyes. Unfortunately, most of these injuries happen to children under age 15.

Learn more at EyeSmart

Holiday Stress

Monterey County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau offers tips on coping during this holiday season

Holiday_Stress The holiday season can be a time full of joy, cheer, parties and family gatherings. But for many people, it is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past disappointments and anxiety about an uncertain future.

What Causes Holiday Blues?

Many factors can cause the “holiday blues”: stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints, and the inability to be with one’s family and friends. The demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests also contribute to feelings of tension. People may also develop other stress responses such as headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating and difficulty sleeping. Even more people experience post-holiday let down after January 1. This can result from disappointments during the preceding months compounded by the excess fatigue and stress.

Coping with Stress & Depression During the Holidays

Keep expectations for the holiday season manageable. Try to set realistic goals for yourself. Pace yourself. Organize your time. Make a list and prioritize the important activities.
Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Don’t put the entire focus on just one day (e.g. Christmas) or one event (e.g. visiting relatives) Remember that it’s a season of holiday sentiment, and activities can be spread out to lessen stress and increase enjoyment.
Read more...

Keep the holidays happy and safe for your pets

Monterey County Animal Services offers tips to keep your pets safe during the holiday festivities

The holidays are in full swing. Holidays bring special cards, gifts decorated with ribbons, tinsel or yarn, and special decorations like Christmas trees. Unfortunately, animals appreciate these items, as well -- and many of them can cause serious damage.

Christmas trees

Anchor trees securely. Climbing cats and dogs with wagging tails can knock over your tree.

Hang breakable, glass ornaments well out of reach. The small glass and metal fastenings can be stepped on or even swallowed by your pet.
Keep tinsel, ribbons and garland out of pets’ reach, especially cats that are intrigued by them. These can become lodged in their intestines, cause obstructions and lead to surgery or death.
Clean up pine needles frequently. They can be toxic when eaten by your pet.
Prevent your pet from drinking water in the tree stand if you have added preservative chemicals. These can be poisonous to pets. Also, stagnant water can contain bacteria, which may lead to vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.

Holiday house plants

Although they add a warm touch, many plants can harm your pets. Keep these potentially dangerous bloomers well out of reach. miseltoe

Prevent falls during the holidays

See the ladder. See the man falling off the ladder.

This is NOT the way to start the holidays. (Obvious? Yes.) Yet, every year, hundreds of people fall from ladders while hanging decorations.

In November and December 2010, more than 13,000 people were treated in emergency rooms nationwide from injuries related to holiday decorations. That’s the largest number of injuries in 8 years.

Learn more on the US Consumer Product Safety website

Put Your Medicines Up and Away and Out of Sight

This time of year, many of us have guests in our homes who may have medications or vitamins they brought with them. Some visitors may not be family_at_the_holidays used to being around young children and may not think about putting medications up and out of sight. Let your visitors know where it is safe to store their medications to protect the kids and give all peace of mind.