Health Tips for a Safe and Healthy Holiday

The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, to celebrate life, to be grateful, and to reflect on what’s important. They are also a time to appreciate – and safeguard – the gift of health.

Tip #7: Travel Safety

Winter storms and cold temperatures can be dangerous. Stay safe and healthy this winter by planning ahead. Whether you’re traveling across town or around the world, ensure that your trip is safe:

Get your car ready for cold weather before winter arrives.

Don’t drink and drive – and don’t let others drive when they’ve been drinking.

Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or skateboarding to help prevent head injuries.
Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle, and always buckle your child in the car using a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt appropriate for their weight, height, and age.

Before traveling abroad, check out health and safety risks at your destination. Don’t forget to get needed vaccinations at least 4 to 6 weeks before you leave to ensure protection by the time you travel.

Anyone traveling more than four hours, whether by air, car, bus, or train, can be at risk for blood clots. Blood clots can form in your legs during travel because you are sitting still in a confined space for long periods of time. Protect yourself during the holiday travel season by moving your legs frequently, know the symptoms of blood clots and when to get help and if you are at risk for blood clots talk to your doctor.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Health Tips for a Safe and Healthy Holiday

The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, to celebrate life, to be grateful, and to reflect on what’s important. They are also a time to appreciate – and safeguard – the gift of health.

Tip #6: Cope with Stress

Everyone—adults, teens, and even children—experiences stress from time to time. Feeling emotional and nervous or having trouble sleeping and eating can all be normal reactions to stress. Learning healthy ways to cope with stress and getting the right care and support can help reduce stressful feelings and symptoms.

Learning to cope in a healthy way can help reduce your stress. Taking small steps in your daily life to manage stress can have a big impact. Everyone manages stress differently. You can find and manage what triggers your stress and the right combination of healthy techniques that work for you. Learn more about healthy ways to cope with stress at: https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/living-with/index.html

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Experience the Magic of Holidays at Gresham!

We’re kicking off the season with an exclusive FIRST LOOK on Giving Tuesday, December 2, from 6–9 PM!

Drive through over one million dazzling lights
Explore festive displays like Candyland
Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus
Enjoy the sounds of Christmas music

This special evening launches our annual fundraising efforts for the Suzanne Gresham Center and Child Advocacy Center. Your donations will help create a therapeutic walking path, a safe space designed to support children’s emotional and mental well-being through movement, reflection, and connection.

Donate $50 or more to have your name honored on the path
Every donation enters you to win a $100 gift card (drawings each weekend!)

While donations aren’t required to attend, they help light the path to healing for children in our community.

Learn more or donate online: www.Holidays.MeridianHS.org

Presented by: Indiana Michigan Power Foundation

Health Tips for a Safe and Healthy Holiday

The holidays are a great opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends, to celebrate life, to be grateful, and to reflect on what’s important. They are also a time to appreciate – and safeguard – the gift of health.

Tip #5: Cold Weather Safety and Home Heating

Outdoor activities during cold weather can expose you to several safety hazards, but you can take steps to be prepared while getting the exercise you need.

Start by wearing warm clothing, a wind-resistant coat or jacket, mittens, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots. To protect from hypothermia, don’t forget to dress in layers.

Additional safety precautions when participating in outdoor recreation include: always carry a cell phone, work slowly when doing outside chores, sprinkle cat litter or sand on icy patches, and take along a buddy and an emergency kit.

Have your heating system, water heater, and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Install a battery-operated or battery backup CO detector where it will awaken your family at night if the alarm is triggered. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Our 2025 Annual Report is now available! Learn more about the impact Meridian has had on our communities over the past year and how together we are building a healthier tomorrow.

Click here to read this year’s report: https://www.meridianhs.org/about/annual-reports/

On Monday and Tuesday we brought nationally recognized speaker Fabian Ramirez to students from several schools in Muncie and Richmond as part of our annual Speaker Series: School Assembly.

With the support of our incredible community partners, we reached over a thousand students with a powerful message of resilience, respect, and rising above negativity. Fabian reminded students that they are not alone and that their voice matters.

Thank you to our sponsors and school partners for helping make this event impactful and unforgettable!
Presented in Muncie by Pridemark Construction
Presented in Richmond by G101-3

Learn more: https://www.meridianhs.org/events/speaker-series/2025-fabian-ramirez/