Guest Post: Doctor’s 5 Tips How to Avoid Getting Sick Over Labor Day Weekend

Doctor’s 5 Tips How to Avoid Getting Sick Over Labor Day Weekend
By: Dr. Yael Halaas

Labor Day is almost here and families are planning their last minute vacations and day trips. The last thing you want is for your kid to get sick when they are supposed to be enjoying themselves during this holiday weekend. Plus, if your kid gets sick it’s more likely you and others in your family will get sick too. Dr. Yael Halaas, an ear nose and throat (ENT) doctor in the NYC area, came up with these great tips on how to avoid getting sick over Labor Day weekend. 

1. Sanitize everything! - One of the first ways to ruin a vacation together is catching a cold on the plane. Carry antibacterial wipes and wipe down every surface you may touch on the plane. Wipe the belt buckle, food tray and latch, volume control, and armrests. The airline crew cannot clean all these surfaces between flights which can harbor contagious viruses and bacteria. 
2. Wash your hands - Wash your hands especially before touching your own or a loved one’s eyes, nose or mouth.  When traveling, it is impossible to avoid contact with surfaces that many others may have touched.  To avoid those bugs contaminating your family, wash your hands. 
3. Be proactive - On family vacations with everyone close together, take Cold-EEZE at the first sign of a cold to shorten the duration, minimizing the amount of time you are sick to better enjoy your vacation. Cold-EEZE zinc lozenges have been found to decrease the duration of colds by nearly half in studies by Dartmouth Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic. Also, by shortening your cold, it minimizes the chances of spreading the cold onto your family members. 
4. Be prepared  - Carry medications with you to minimize the impact of a cold or illness so you can all still enjoy your trip. Useful medications include analgesia like Tylenol or allergy medications for adults and children. Adults may also want to have some decongestants handy just in case. 
5. Be healthy - Good hydration, good nutrition and exercise go a long way to giving the body the support it needs to stay strong.

Background

Dr. Yael Halaas, ear, nose and throat doctor. She’s been featured on round up/lifestyle and breaking news segments on The Doctors, FOX News and ABC New York.

She has been quoted in US Weekly, Men’s Fitness & Fitness Magazine.
 

• Medical School - Cornell University
• Yeshiva University, Residency in Otolaryngology
• Yeshiva University, Internship in General Surgery

 

Board Certifications:

• American Board of Otolaryngology

Professional Memberships:

• American Medical Association
• American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery.
• American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery