Along with any other personal resolutions you may have already made, one thing to keep front-of-mind as we welcome a new year is to care for your own health and safety. Here are a few ideas from the caring team at YourTown Health that can help you prioritize these two things well into 2022 and beyond.
Stay COVID Safe and Get Vaccinated
While many of us are eagerly looking forward to when we can say goodbye to face masks, in order to protect against the spread of the virus and its new variants, we may need to continue social distancing and wearing masks in everyday life through 2022.
The CDC also recommends that everyone over 5 years old gets vaccinated for COVID-19, and everyone over 18 gets a booster if already vaccinated. Making these appointments, standing in lines, and getting an injection may not be pleasant experiences, but the COVID-19 vaccines bring many benefits, and provide added protection during normal activities. Getting the vaccine doesn’t only help the recipient; it has been shown to also help protect the unborn fetuses of expectant mothers and newborns who are nursing.
Keep in mind, however, that the COVID vaccine isn’t the only one to think about at this time of year. Getting the flu shot is also essential for helping us to keep our community healthy, and our COVID-strained hospitals better equipped to help those in the most dire need.
Thankfully, many health clinics offer both COVID boosters and flu shots at the same time. Modern Family star Sarah Hyland shared her experiences getting both a COVID booster and flu shot on her social media platforms, and other celebrities have shared their vaccine experiences to help encourage everyone to stay safe together.
Keep the Habit of Washing Your Hands
Making sure to wash your hands regularly has been lifesaving during this pandemic as “one of the most effective ways of keeping diseases at bay,” as Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of the WHO South-East Asia Region has noted.
The simple act of washing your hands can not only help to protect you against the COVD-19 virus, but also many other viruses and diseases, as well as those caused by bacteria on food. For this reason, we must maintain the habit of regular hand washing in 2022 to continue keeping ourselves and our communities safe.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings and Take Precautions
Health and safety aren’t just about the things you can’t see, like viruses and bacteria. Some of the most important precautions you can take are right in front of your face… or under your feet.
As you travel around your community, stay aware of your surroundings. Make sure to check for oncoming traffic and make an effort to always be a safe pedestrian. Also remain mindful of things such as where exits are in a building in case of a sudden emergency.
Taking precautions like wearing non-slip shoes so you don’t fall on slippery floors seems simple but can also help. If you’re driving — or in a car at all — one of the safest choices you can make is to put on your seatbelt. It only takes a couple of seconds, but making sure that you and your passengers wear your seatbelts every time can help you and your family avoid accidental injury and keep you all safe.
At YourTown Health, we have been serving our communities for over 35 years and are devoted to providing high-quality health care to everyone in our community, regardless of insurance coverage. For more information on how you can stay safe and healthy, visit our website.
