As we slide into the holiday season, the city of Austin is doling out advice on how to keep your celebrations free of illness, injury, and legal woes. According to a press release from the City of Austin, public health officials are advocating for residents to take extra care in their holiday preparations.
Austin Public Health offers a reminder that the holidays should be a time for joy, not for trips to the emergency room. "The holidays are a time to enjoy the company of the people we love, not get sick or hurt," says Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. The organization emphasizes the importance of preventing foodborne illnesses, stifling the spread of respiratory viruses, and avoiding drunk driving. Each year, the perils of contaminated food are highlighted by grim statistics, with roughly 48 million Americans stricken by foodborne diseases, and several thousand dying from these preventable conditions.
To fend off foodborne illnesses, residents should handle their holiday feasts with care. Following the CDC's advice, Austin Public Health recommends keeping your raw and cooked foods separate, ensuring that foods are cooked to the right temperatures, and being prompt about refrigeration. In these warmer climes, perishables should be chilled within two hours, or one hour if they’ve been exposed to temperatures north of 90°F. Handwashing is another key tactic in the fight to keep both foodborne and respiratory illnesses at bay. Vigorous, soap-assisted hand scrubbing for at least 20 seconds is advised before and after preparing food, after bathroom visits, and after handling pets or trash, among other activities.
As the cold weather ushers in the usual uptick in respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV, Austin Public Health implores the public to stay vigilant. Their advice is grounded in simplicity: Stay at home if you feel ill, opt for video calls to include sick loved ones in festivities remotely, and get vaccinated. For those planning to indulge in holiday spirits, the warning against drunk driving is stern and backed by somber 2023 statistics from Texas Department of Transportation—a stark reminder of the nearly 1,000 alcohol-related crashes and the resulting 94 deaths in Austin alone.
The holidays are often synonymous with merriment that sometimes clouds judgment, so planning ahead for transportation if drinking is involved is essential. Options such as designating a sober driver or using rideshare services and public transportation are highlighted as smart choices to ensure everyone wraps up their celebrations safely tucked in their own beds and not behind bars or in a hospital bed. These measures proposed for a safe holiday season reflect a community effort to uphold the wellbeing of all Austin residents as they ring in the festive times with friends and family.
