Staying safe and healthy during the holidays

As I wrote at the end of Questions answered about the Affordable Care Act, "Stay tuned for dealing with holiday stress, the brain, and other health topics."  Tonight, the topic is dealing with the holidays.


The University of Alabama, both at its main campus in Tuscaloosa and its urban campus in Birmingham, has health and safety information for the holiday season.  First, UA Matters counsels readers on Dealing with Stress During the Holidays.
Nov 18, 2013

The holidays can be a busy, and stressful, time of year. Whether it’s coping with house guests, trying to finish holiday shopping or planning a large holiday meal, everyone should take some time to decompress. The University of Alabama’s Dr. Harriet Myers offers a few suggestions on how to do just that.

Next, Bob Shepard on the Birmingham campus tells how to Stay safe this holiday season.
Thursday, November 21, 2013

‘Tis the season to be safe.  As the holidays approach, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Police offer safety tips for shopping or traveling that can help keep your celebrations merry.
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“Stores and malls are busy this time of year, and so are the bad guys,” said Tonya Webb, UAB Police crime prevention specialist. “Go with a friend, stay in well-lit areas, have a plan and stick to it.”

Back to Tuscaloosa, where a UA Study [finds] Holiday Driving Dangerous, More So Just Before Christmas.
Nov 19, 2013

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The days just before Christmas, as people rush to buy presents and travel to holiday destinations, can be more dangerous on roadways than the days surrounding Thanksgiving and New Year’s, according to a recent study of traffic data by The University of Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety.

Analyzing the past 10 years of Alabama crash data during six-day periods surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, UA researchers found heavy traffic surrounding all three major holidays can increase the chances for automobile accidents. However, in 2012, the six-day period that includes Christmas had 18 percent more auto accidents than the Thanksgiving period and 27 percent more than the days around New Year’s Day, according to the center, known as CAPS.

“The shopping days before Christmas are perilous,” said Dr. David Brown, a professor of computer science at UA and a research associate with CAPS.

I'll have a bonus installment for tonight, which is reputed to be one of the biggest bar nights of the year.  In the meantime, stay safe out there!