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We are ER doctors. Here are 7 things we do to avoid getting sick on vacation.

The holidays are a time for celebration, family gatherings and fancy dinners—but for emergency room doctors, they’re also one of the busiest times of the year.

Each year, emergency departments see a projected increase in visits between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Between foodborne illnesses, respiratory infections and accidents in the kitchen, there are plenty of events that keep them busy. Good news? Most of these visits are preventable.

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We asked emergency medicine physicians from across the country to share the habits they rely on to keep themselves and their families healthy this holiday season. Their advice is surprisingly simple – and could save your celebration from taking a seriously unpleasant turn.

They keep surfaces clean.

Dr. According to Alexis Halpern, An emergency medicine physician At Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the biggest culprit behind holiday sickness starts in the kitchen.

“It’s always important to clean surfaces and cutting boards immediately after handling raw meat, poultry and fish because any bacteria that can survive on the surface for some time — hours to weeks,” she said. “If it touches other foods, which can’t be cooked, they can transfer to those foods and make anyone who eats them sick.”

Halpern recommends a simple but thorough cleaning process: “First remove all food debris, use warm water and mild dish soap (depending on the surface), then use a food-safe sanitizer… If you use dish towels to dry surfaces, put them in the laundry instead of continuing to use them.”

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Her advice extends beyond the kitchen. “Upper respiratory viruses, which are common in the winter, can live on anything people touch, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, cell phones and countertops, from a few hours to a few days, depending on the virus,” she said.

“Wash your hands when you come in from outside, after being with a lot of people and if you’re shaking hands a lot. Also, never touch your face when you’re outside because the eyes, nose and mouth are the easiest places for viruses to enter your body.”

They make sure to keep their vaccines up to date.

“Especially for annual influenza and COVID-19, continued vaccination is the most effective strategy for preventing these viral diseases and their complications,” Dr. Peggy Tseng Gee, an emergency medicine physician, said.

This is especially important for high-risk groups: “Vaccination reduces hospitalization and mortality in high-risk populations,” he noted. Her advice: “Update your vaccinations as soon as possible during the peak cold and flu season, which starts in October and runs between December and February.”

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They keep washing their hands.

She continues to wash her hands to stay virus-free even during the G season.

“Washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not be groundbreaking, but evidence consistently shows that old-fashioned habits reduce the incidence of acute respiratory infections,” she said.

“Wash your hands with soap and water for about 20 seconds, cleaning both palms, between the fingers and all fingers. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used when soap and water are not available but must contain at least 60% alcohol.”

This is especially important if you’re playing with pets or preparing food, she added Gautami Soma DrYale Medicine Pediatric Emergency Medicine Specialist and Assistant Professor at Yale School of Medicine.

Leaving food out for long periods of time and then consuming it can cause foodborne illness. LumiNola via Getty Images

They don’t let food sit out for long.

Holiday meals often drag on for hours—but the spread of stuffing, gravy, and turkey left on the counter can be a ticking time bomb. Dr. Kirsten BechtelA pediatric emergency medicine specialist at Yale Medicine warns that food safety mistakes are a common cause of holiday ER visits.

“The danger zone for bacteria to grow in prepared/cooked foods is 40 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit,” Bechtel said. “Food must be cooled before freezing.”

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Her rule of thumb: “No prepared/cooked or chilled food should be left out for more than two hours.” To be safe, she recommends keeping cold dishes on ice and hot dishes above 140 degrees Fahrenheit using chafing dishes or crockpots. “If you want to reheat leftovers in the microwave, reheat it so it’s 165 degrees Fahrenheit or steaming hot.”

When keeping food hot, be aware of the dangers hot food poses to young children. “Items cooked hot on the stove can cause burns if they come in contact with the skin – remember to put items on the farthest back burner with the handle in and away from children trying to reach,” said Soma.

They ensure a medical kit is on hand.

No matter how prepared you are, having the essentials at home helps. Halpern suggests keeping a few key medications ready for unexpected events like snowstorms or hurricanes.

“It’s never a bad idea to take fever reducers and pain medications, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen,” Halpern said. “It’s also a good idea to take diphenhydramine, which can be used if someone has allergies, especially if you have guests with unknown food and other allergies.”

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He added: “Hold on to the instructions for safe use, both for adults and weight-based dosing for children … and make sure they have child-resistant caps.”

They make sure to wear masks when necessary.

When gathering crowds or caring for the sick, it’s always best to wear a mask, Ji said.

“The mask acts as a physical barrier, limiting the spread of infectious particles from both asymptomatic and asymptomatic individuals,” he explained. “When I was sick with COVID-19, I always wore an N95 around my family … I was able to take care of both my children and continue to breastfeed my infant without infecting anyone else.”

She recommends N95 respirators for best protection, followed by surgical masks. “For maximum protection, wear masks consistently and correctly — covering both nose and mouth — especially in crowded or poorly ventilated areas,” Ji said.

They pay attention to warning signs and seek medical attention when necessary.

Even with all the right precautions, illnesses do occur. But knowing when to go to the doctor — or the emergency room — can save lives.

Halpern emphasizes the importance of listening to your body: “Colds and viruses are common in the winter and can lead to coughs, congestion, and sore throats, headaches, body aches, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.”

However, some symptoms require immediate care. “If these symptoms progress to feeling like you can’t breathe, like you can’t get enough air or you’re breathing too fast, severe weakness or lethargy, or a fever above 103 that lasts for several days or doesn’t respond to fever-reducing medications, it’s important to seek medical attention,” Halpern said.

She also warned not to ignore severe dehydration: “If you can’t stop vomiting, have persistent diarrhea or you stop urinating, you may have severe dehydration … Please see an individual so you can get IV fluids and replenish electrolytes as needed.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, go to the nearest emergency care facility or emergency room immediately. “We want to see you, rather than have you stay at home and be dangerously ill, get better and send you home with supportive care and medication,” Halpern said.