H1N1 holiday etiquette: Should I or shouldn't I?

By Takara Small, guest blogger, Your Best Stuff

With flu anxiety in full gear, it might seem like skipping out on seasonal festivities this year is the best thing to do. But the truth is that holiday parties can be safe and fun if you take the right steps to protect yourself, says Michael Finkelstein, associate medical officer of health for Toronto Public Health.

"We're trying to get the message out that people should take precautions to stop the spread of the flu but go about their normal activities," he said. "People who go to parties aren't more or less likely to get H1N1."

Here are some tips on how to prevent you and your loved ones from getting sick this holiday season.

Mistletoe: There's no need to avoid that pesky mistletoe at events this year. Exchanging a kiss or two on the cheek isn't enough to get you sick and is actually safer than the usual handshake, says Debrett's, an etiquette publication. Just make sure not to stray from the occasional peck on the cheek as the night goes on, and you'll be fine.

Food: Party planners should avoid offering guests food in big communal bowls, not to avoid H1N1 but other food-borne illnesses, Finkelstein says. Shared food plates are "a problem for a whole bunch of other issues. Influenza doesn’t like that way of going from person to person, but people can still get sick from other food-borne illnesses."

Planners can reduce the risk of food poisoning and other illnesses by serving small, individual portions, ensuring cooked and raw food are placed in separate areas and cleaning shared utensils like ice tongs throughout the night.

Santa Claus: Parents across the country will soon start queuing up with their kids to see the big guy in red, but many are wondering whether St. Nick might pass on germs. Not likely, says Finkelstein. "The lineup for Santa is no different than waiting in line for the movies. Again, it's just going back to the basics and making sure your kids' hands are clean."

He suggests parents who line up to see Santa Claus or take their kids to other holiday events bring along hand sanitizer to keep hands clean and toys to give kids something to play with and a way to avoid touching other people and objects.

Coughs: Hand-to-hand contact and not covering your mouth and nose are the easiest ways to spread the virus, according to Health Canada, so proper hand washing is key to staying healthy. "Having people washing their hands periodically reduces the chances of everyone getting sick, but sometimes water isn't available, so in that case use hand sanitizer," Finkelstein advises.

Cough into your arm, not your hand, and wash your hands regularly throughout the day. Also, dispose of used tissues by immediately throwing them in the garbage.

Alcohol: A good offence is the best defence, so make sure to rehydrate throughout the night. Remember that water, not alcohol, will keep you healthy days after the Christmas party is over, so make sure to consume an equal amount of both.

We want to know whether you're concerned about getting sick.

Will you skip out on seasonal parties this year or leave it all to chance and have a good time?

What precautions are you taking to reduce your risk of getting sick?