Stay Safe This Christmas
Christmas is a time to relax, sit back and not have to worry about the harsher things in life. Make sure you do that, but keeping a sneaky eye on your health will help make the Christmas period run like frosty clockwork.
Candles are to Christmas like Ant is to Dec – we can't have one without the other, but eliminate the risk of an accident with candles by following some sensible tips. Think carefully about where you place those festive candles and remember to blow them out before you go to bed.
It's a good idea to make sure your other lighting, like fairy lights are in good working order before you spend 20 minutes wrapping them around your tree!
Hangovers can be the ultimate sabotage to an enjoyable boxing day. To avoid feeling like Christmas 2009 will be your last, think ahead. If you can, drink at least a pint of water before you go to bed.
It will hydrate you and make you feel much better in the morning, provided you keep up the water intake when you wake up.
Taking milk thistle before and after that boozy Christmas night will help protect your liver and alternating soft drinks with your alcohol throughout the night will help you avoid those hangover woes.
If you, like me, will ignore any prior alcohol warnings on the big day and end up with that dreaded killer hangover the next day, then there are a number of hangover 'cures' to try on the day.
Drink lots of water, and avoid fried food – despite the warm fuzzy feeling you get initially from that fry up at 'Brenda's kitchen', it won't last long.
Pasta, bread, cereal, potatoes and fresh fruit are best for a hangover and will revitalise you soon enough - a healthy does of paracetamol will help that headache.
If you've been elected as the designated driver, make sure it stays that way! Even if you're driving home the next day after having a drink, the alcohol can still be in your bloodstream.
Although you're feeling fine you could be over the legal limit. The UK legal limit is 80mg of alcohol for every 100ml of blood in your body. Stay safe, be responsible.
If your feeling lonely at Christmas, don't suffer in silence. It can be a bleak time for some and it can be difficult to cope. The Samaritans are a great service in the form of a friendly voice.
Give them a call and unload your problems onto any of the volunteers who are there to care for you on Christmas day. Call 08457 90 90 90 or go online and speak to someone at www.samaritans.org
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