Health Canada reports there has been 161 deaths due to H1N1 as of November 12, 2009. The flu season, indeed, is unavoidable. Vaccines are also limited. But it shouldn't stop Canadians from the annual madness of holiday shopping. With packed malls and a barrage of sales, shopping will inevitably lead to person-to-person contact and puts people at a higher risk to contract H1N1. Though the flood of shoppers may be hard to control, there are measures that can be taken to ensure a safe gift-giving season.
Avoid High Traffic Times or Shop Online
Don't shop when the mall is busy. This means weekends, Friday afternoons and lunch hours. One way to steer clear of the crowds when buying presents is to do research online. Browse websites for possible gifts before dropping by the store. Online shopping itself is another viable option. A study conducted by Morpace Research and Consulting states that one in five consumers will be opting to purchase gifts online this year.
Don't Touch Public Property
Keep clear of touching escalator or stair railings, counters in the food court or any other spot in the mall and boutiques that are susceptible to harboring germs. Viruses, according to Health Canada, can live on the surface for 48 hours. Many people who may have already contracted a cold could easily pass on the virus by touching the most common things found in a shopping plaza. As hard as it may be to resist scouring that huge pile of merchandise on sale, try to keep the touching to a minimum.
Pack a Hand Sanitizer
Bring an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It could be the quickest way to get rid of germs when the nearest washroom is on the other side of the mall or at the end of the street in the shopping districts. Health Canada's "preparedness kit" also includes masks, cough lozenges and tissues.
Don't Infect Others
Having said that, skip the mall if there's any suspicion that a cold or worse, an H1N1 symptom, is present. Malls and boutiques will always attract crowds during the holidays. Be responsible by taking into consideration the health of others. If unsure about symptoms or treatment, contact the government information line at 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232).
Sickness and shopping don't have to go hand in hand. Doing the little things make a world of difference to ensuring that the H1N1 virus wouldn't spread as rapidly . In the end, everyone gets to enjoy an illness-free holiday season.
For more prevention tips, visit Health Canada's special page on H1N1, fightflu.ca.
See also: Swine Flu Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention and Swine Flu Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
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