There are still a couple of weeks left in the 2013 Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show. It is a huge event that draws thousands of people into Downtown Houston. Unfortunately, with so many people together, sickness can spread like a wild fire. With the country coming down from a terrible flu season, it is important to remember that there are still some sick individuals out there with a virus ready to spread. Whether the family decides to attend one of the many remaining concerts, the livestock show, or the carnival, take some precautions to remain healthy.
To drive or not to drive, that is the question. Houston traffic can be extremely aggravating, especially when one considers the idea of having to find a parking spot within walking distance of the festivities. Public transit either by shuttle or the train is a popular choice among Houstonians. This puts everyone within very cramped spaces, even if it is just for short periods of time. While standing on the train or in crowds, try to avoid being directly in front of someone's face (remember, the person will probably only be a few inches away). Always attempt to sneeze and cough into the crook of your arm instead of into the hand or worse yet, just out into the air. There is no telling when a person will have access to a sink or antimicrobial gel to clean his or her hands.
Along the same lines, make sure to wash your hands before eating or touching your face after getting off the train. The traffic is higher than normal and there is no telling what may be lurking around on the nearby surfaces. There is no denying that people get tired of hearing "wash your hands," but it is the easiest and simplest step that a person can take to help cut down the spread of infectious diseases. This motto also applies to touching the different animals at the livestock show. In addition, livestock should not be handled if an individual has open cuts on the hands unless they are covered. Even though the animals have been certified to be healthy, there are still bacteria that can cause infection if let to their own device.
Last, but certainly not least, if anyone is not feeling well, skip the trip out if possible and try to reschedule for another day (the events will be going on until almost the end of March). While it can be easy to believe that feeling under the weather is only temporary, many people are already contagious during this phase. If a fever is present, definitely minimize exposure to others and consider getting healthy before being in large crowds. Have a good time at the carnival and other events while making sure to keep basic health precautions in place.
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