It’s almost the end of another hectic year and with the silly season about to be in full swing, it’s time to let loose and relax. However with more people out and about looking to enjoy the holiday break too, it’s important to make safety a priority. Whether you’re out at the beach or taking a road trip with mates, here are some tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this season.
Food safety tips
1. Be mindful of how long food is sitting out
When you’re having your friends and family over for a BBQ, it’s common for food to be left lying out while everyone grabs a plate and chats. To avoid any nasty bugs, make sure that food isn’t left sitting at room temperature for more than two hours.
2. Don’t reheat food more than once
There’s nothing like the leftovers from a roast or BBQ, but try to make the most of them the day after and no later. You shouldn’t be reheating food more than once, otherwise you’ll risk having a very upset stomach.
Alcohol safety tips
3. Stay hydrated
It’s fine to have a few drinks over the holidays – after all, we’re celebrating the end of the year and a fresh new start! However, to avoid the dreaded hangover that’ll have you out of action for a couple of days, try alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to stay hydrated.
4. Don’t drink and drive
Everyone thinks this one is obvious, but it can be a bit of a grey area when you feel as though you’ve not had that much to drink. Always plan for a different way of getting home if you’re going to drink alcohol, or plan to stay the night at your friend’s or family’s place.
Beach safety tips
5. Slip, slop, slap and wrap
You know how this one goes – slip into the shade, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap some sunglasses around your face. In our New Zealand sun, it’s easy to get burnt before you know it so make sure you get the sun safety basics right this season.
6. Swim between the flags
It might be tempting to take a dip in a more secluded area, but the flags are there at the beach for a reason. Rips and other dangerous water features can be easily hidden beneath the surface and even if you’re a strong swimmer, you might get caught out.
Let’s all get back from our summer holiday in one piece! Stay safe everyone.