Holidays

by David Borgenicht

  1. Avoid excess.

  Overdoing certain things can promote depression.

  To prevent the onset of depression:

  Avoid increased stress.

  Avoid increased consumption of alcohol and sugar.

  Avoid poor eating habits and nutritional deficiencies.

  Avoid increased spending and financial burdens.

  Avoid overwhelming social commitments.

  2. Eat mood-elevating foods.

  L-tryptophane and L-tyrosine, two amino acids, are essential for the production of the mood elevator

  seratonin. Two natural sources of L-tryptophane are pumpkin seeds and turkey, while L-tryosine can be found in dairy products, beans, meat, and fish. To support the nervous system and help resolve stress, take B-complex vitamins. Since low levels of magnesium can cause depression, eat green vegetables, since magnesium is part of the chlorophyll complex.

  3. Exercise.

  Take brisk walks or exercise vigorously. Strenuous exercise increases endorphin levels and elevates the mood. Activity also helps flush the lymphatic system and remove wastes that can adversely affect mood. Exercising outdoors in sunlight is also a mood enhancer.

  4. Focus on the brevity of the holiday.

  Even the longest day has only 24 hours.

  5. Embrace the pain.

  Instead of trying to avoid holiday activities (cooking, shopping, cleaning, traveling) or wallowing passively in your depression, actively embrace the very things you dread. This counter-intuitive approach will surprise others as well as yourself, and may shock your system into a better mood. It will also pass the time more quickly.

  HOW TO DEAL WITH POST-HOLIDAY DEPRESSION

  1. Remove all holiday decorations.

  Holiday decorations, while attractive, can also serve to remind you of the celebration that is now a part of the past. Take them down and pack them away.

  2. Return all unwanted gifts as soon as possible.

  Unwanted gifts that remain in the house only serve as painful reminders of the holidays. Replace these items with new things that you genuinely want, and be happy with your new acquisitions.

  3. Recognize the symptoms of post-holiday depression.

  The symptoms include apathy toward work, social events, relationships, and goals; loss of energy, appetite, self-esteem; feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or free-floating anxiety; excessive or interrupted sleep; and frequent headaches. Accepting the fact that you have post-holiday depression is the first step toward dealing with it.

  4. Plan another event.

  Look ahead to birthdays, trips, anniversaries, and other occasions you can celebrate soon.

  5. Think about next year.

  Remind yourself that your favorite holidays will be back again next year. Focus on how much fun you will have then.

  6. Eat mood-elevating foods and exercise.

  See “How to Overcome Holiday Depression,” steps 2 and 3.

  Be Aware

  Holiday depression, stress, and anxiety often arise from letting things go until the last minute or from overspending. Plan and spend accordingly.

  Herbal mood elevators include St. John’s wort, skullcap and oats, kava kava and valerian root, milk thistle, and the Chinese herb Hsiao Yao Wan. Use as directed.

  An underactive thyroid gland can cause depression. If none of the above remedies are successful, have your thyroid checked.

  Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which results from exposure to fewer hours of sunlight. It might be the season, not the holidays, that are at the root of your dissatisfaction.

  CHAPTER 3

  HOLIDAY EMERGENCIES

  HOW TO TREAT FOOD POISONING

  1. Stay hydrated.

  The symptoms of food poisoning vary depending on the type of microorganism or toxin ingested, but can generally cause severe stomach cramping, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, leading to dehydration. Drink several gallons of water per day.

  2. Replenish mineral salts.

  Eat bland foods, in moderation, as soon as you are able. Diarrhea depletes the body of salts, and drinking water alone will not replace them; sports rehydration drinks are effective. Nibble on dry salted crackers or plain rice to replenish salts, too.

  3. Do not induce vomiting.

  Depending on the microorganism or toxin involved, food poisoning may cause vomiting, which does not clear the bacteria from the body, but will cause further dehydration.

  4. Do not take anti-peristaltic medication.

  Some anti-diarrhea medications work by slowing the movement of waste in the gut, causing the toxins to remain in the body for a longer period of time.

  5. Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, and milk products.

  These drinks and foods may aggravate the gut and cause additional gas and cramping. Never follow a suspect meal with a drink of alcohol to “kill” the germs; this is not effective.

  6. Be prepared for several days of discomfort.

  Food poisoning may induce a severe headache and sweating. Keep the body cool: Never try to sweat out the germs. The symptoms of food poisoning are usually short-lived. If the symptoms persist for more than a week, or if you detect bleeding, consult a health care professional.

  HOLIDAY FOOD ALERT

  Oysters should be fully cooked.

  Raw oysters are particularly susceptible to invasions by microorganisms that can cause food poisoning: If the raw oyster tastes “off” in any way, do not swallow it.

  Fully cook all meat.

  Poultry should be fully cooked, with no traces of pink or red, to an internal temperature of 165° F. Beef and game should be cooked to at least 140° F.

  Serve cooked foods immediately.

  Cooked foods that are not served immediately must be kept at a holding temperature between 140° and 165° F. Do not leave food unrefrigerated longer than two hours or the chances of bacterial growth increase.

  Egg yolks should not be eaten raw or runny.

  This will reduce the risk of salmonella poisoning. Eggnog usually contains raw egg yolks, so make sure the eggnog you drink has been pasteurized. Homemade mayonnaise is made with raw eggs, so avoid it.

  Cooked shellfish should be kept on ice.

  Fish and seafood, especially shellfish, are often harbor to many different kinds of microorganisms.

  Avoid any dented cans.

  If the seal on the can has been affected, the contents may be contaminated and you risk getting botulism.

  Be Aware

  Food poisoning is caused by a range of micro-organisms or their byproducts. Each bug has its own properties and set of symptoms: Some must be alive and present in large quantities to cause harm, while others, such as E. coli 0157, can inflict a lethal dose from just a few bacteria.

  Separate raw and cooked foods. Even foods that have been properly cooked can be contaminated if they come in contact with raw foods or implements (knives and cutting boards, for example) that have touched them.

  Drink bottled water when traveling to visit relatives if you are unsure of the safety of the tap water. Avoid ice cubes, as these are usually made with tap water. Check seals on bottles to make sure they are intact: If they are broken, the bottles may have been refilled with tap water.

  HOW TO EXTINGUISH A CHRISTMAS TREE FIRE

  1. Assess the size and nature of the fire.

  Quickly determine if the source of the fire is electrical, and observe how large an area of the tree is burning. A fire larger than the size of a small wastebasket cannot usually be contained, even with a home extinguisher. If the fire is that large, evacuate the building and call the fire department from a cellular phone or a neighbor’s house.

  2. If the fire is small and not electrical, douse it or smother it.

  Extinguish the fire with a bucket of water or a multipurpose (Class ABC) fire extinguisher, or smother it with a wet blanket.

  3. If the fire is electrical, use a fire extinguisher.

  Do not throw water on an electrical fire. U
se a multi-purpose (Class ABC) home fire extinguisher.

  4. When using a fire extinguisher, stand with your back toward an exit, six to eight feet from the fire, and Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (PASS).

  Pull the release tab, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever to release the pressurized chemicals, and sweep from side to side as you slowly move closer to the fire.

  5. If the fire is still spreading, exit the house.

  Evacuate the building quickly. Do not attempt to save ornaments, Christmas presents, or other valuables.

  HOW TO PREVENT A CHRISTMAS TREE FIRE

  1. Select a fresh tree.

  A dry tree is a major fire hazard; to get the freshest tree, cut it yourself. If you purchase a precut tree, run your hand down a branch to make sure it is not dry and shedding needles. Test the tree by bending a needle: If it snaps, the tree is too dry.

  2. Leave the tree in a bucket of water overnight.

  Place the tree in the stand the next day. Water it daily.

  3. Place the tree at least three feet away from a fireplace, radiator, or other heat source.

  4. Unplug tree lights when not in use.

  Do not leave the lights on during the day, when you go to bed, or when you leave the house.

  5. Do not place lit candles on or near a tree.

  If tradition requires candles, use specially weighted sconces that do not tip over. Do not add electric tree lights or other electric equipment to or around the tree (such as a train set), in the event that water must be thrown onto the tree. Do not leave the tree unattended.

  HOW TO SURVIVE A FALL FROM A LADDER

  1. Anticipate the fall.

  As soon as you feel the ladder or stepstool move or you begin to lose your balance, be ready to shift your position. You will have less than a second to react.

  2. Do not grab at any fixtures or decorations.

  Lighting fixtures, decorations, hooks, and wires will not support your body weight—just prepare for impact.

  3. Position your body.

  As you begin to fall, twist your body so your back is to the ground.

  4. Curl into a ball.

  Tucking in your arms and legs and curling into a ball will minimize the chance of breaking any limbs. The longer the fall, the more time you will have to prepare.

  5. Attempt to land on your rear.

  The safest part of the body to land on is the backside. This landing will minimize major damage, including broken heels and spinal cord injuries.

  Be Aware

  A backside landing can cause a tailbone fracture or a vertebral compression fracture, but neither of these usually results in life-long disability.

  If you are on a taller ladder, do not try to land on your feet. While leg and ankle fractures are generally short-term injuries, heel (calcaneus) fractures have an extended recovery time and can cause long-term disability.

  If you are stranded on a roof with no way to get down and no one in sight, shout down the chimney. If there is a fire in the fireplace, however, do not inhale smoke between shouts.

  HOW TO SURVIVE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT DISASTERS

  HOW TO UNTANGLE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS

  1. Remain calm.

  Untangling tree lights can be a frustrating and prolonged process. Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing; turn on cheerful music; and sit in a comfortable chair. Trying to work quickly will only make you more frustrated and result in further tangles.

  2. Unplug all connected strands.

  Light strands plugged into one another can create a very complex, knotted loop. Unplug all strands so that your tangle contains several separate sections.

  3. Find a free end.

  Do not attempt to untangle the lights from the center of the knotted mass. If there is more than one free end, pick one.

  4. Loosen all the knots.

  Splay your fingers open within the tangles of the knots to loosen them. When the knots are all loose, open a hole through the tangle to separate the free end from the mass.

  5. Wind the free end methodically back through each knot.

  Do not yank on the free end; gently work it through the untangled knots. Always treat the strands gently to avoid breaking the bulbs.

  6. Untie each successive knot carefully.

  Keep the free end rolled to make it easier to work with and to reduce the length of cord you need to pass through the knots.

  7. Keep the free end under control.

  Never pull on the free end. Pulling will tighten the tangle and make the knots harder to untie. As you work, the knot-free section should continue to get longer. Even if the tangle seems to be getting more severe, if the knot-free section is lengthening, you will ultimately succeed.

  8. Repeat as necessary.

  Once one strand of lights has been removed from the tangle, repeat the process with another free end until each strand is removed and the tangle eliminated. Keep yourself hydrated.

  Be Aware

  The best way to prevent light strands from tangling is to coil them around a stiff piece of cardboard before putting them away.

  Severely knotted strands may take hours to untangle. If you do not wish to spend time in this manner, consider buying new lights. The cost of tree lights has dropped considerably in recent years.

  HOW TO RESPOND TO PROLONGED TREE-LIGHT SHOCK

  Faulty lights or extension cords may pose a risk of electrocution.

  1. Do not touch a victim still connected to the power source.

  Shut off power at the breaker/fuse box as quickly as possible. You must eliminate the power source before handling the light string or touching the victim. Once the power is off, it is safe to touch the victim.

  2. If the fuse/breaker box cannot be found, kick out the cord.

  Use a rubber-soled shoe to kick the cord out of the wall outlet. Do not use a broom or another object to try to separate the victim from the power source; these items may have some conductivity.

  3. Instruct someone to call for emergency medical technicians.

  Administer CPR.

  Be Aware

  Never connect more than three strands to a single socket. Count an extension cord as one strand.

  Check the condition of all light strands. Look for frayed wire, cuts, and cracking of the cords. Discard any lights in poor condition, or any strands with rusting sockets.

  Use light strands that have been approved by a certified testing lab.

  To reduce shock risk, always keep bulbs in all light sockets. Newer strands will light even with burned out or defective bulbs: Either replace the bad bulb before using the lights or leave the burnt bulb in place. Make sure connections between strands are tight.

  Check the outlet and wall area around it for discoloration, which may be a sign that the outlet is faulty.

  Light strands may be slightly warm to the touch; this is not unusual. However, if they are hot, unplug and replace them, or use another outlet.

  Never coil light strands when they are connected to power; this will generate heat and may cause a fire. Unplug lights during the day to reduce heat buildup.

  If using outdoor lights, wrap connections between strands with electrical tape, and make sure connetions at the power source are protected from moisture.

  Plugging light strands into a surge protector does not offer protection from electric shock. These devices are designed to protect property from current spikes or surges, not to protect people from the current leakages that cause electric shock.

  HOW TO RESIZE A CHRISTMAS TREE

  IF IT IS TOO TALL FOR THE ROOM

  1. Do not force it inside.

  Keep the tree outdoors or in another room until you have made the necessary alterations.

  2. Obtain pruning shears and a bow saw.

  Prepare to use long-handled, scissor-type shears for removing branches, and an open-throated bow saw with a 20- or 30-inch steel blade for cutting a large trunk.

  3. Measure the height of the tree stand, the tree itself, and t
he height of the room.

  Figure out approximately how much shorter the tree needs to be.

  4. Locate the whorl and internodal branches.

  Whorl branches are larger in diameter and grow out from the trunk in sets of four to six; they resemble the spokes of wheel. Sets of whorl branches are located every 12 to 15 inches along the trunk of a standard eight-foot-tall tree. Internodal branches are smaller in diameter and are randomly spaced on the tree between the whorl branches.

  5. Mark the tree for cutting.

  Find the lowest level of whorl branches whose removal will sufficiently shorten the tree but will leave enough space for the trunk to neatly fit into the tree stand. Make a hash mark with the saw just above these whorl branches on the trunk.

  6. Remove the branches below your hash mark to prepare the trunk for trimming.

  Use the shears for branches up to 1 inch in diameter, and use the bow saw for larger branches. Without branches, the trunk will be easier to cut.

  7. Cut the trunk.

  Use the bow saw to cut the trunk at the hash mark.