This time of year brings holiday celebrations, but for many it can also bring sickness, bed rest and days home from work and school. Don't ruin your holiday time off with a bout of the sniffles and sneezes. The Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross encourages local residents to stay healthy and help prevent the spread of illness, including colds and flu.

The chapter encourages people in our community to take a preventive approach to the flu season, rather than reacting once they become sick. If you practice some basic hygiene, along with healthy habits, you're less likely to get a flu or cold. And you're less likely to pass those illnesses on to others.

Here are some suggestions for keeping the flu away:

Protect yourself from becoming ill by building and maintaining resistance. A healthy body is more resistant to any illness. A healthy diet, including nutritious foods and foods rich in Vitamin C, is a good start. Get plenty of rest, avoid stress and exercise consistently.

Wash away the worry. Flu virus is often transmitted through touch. Keeping your hands clean is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent the spread of any disease, including the flu. Wash your hands for at least 15 seconds with antibacterial soap and hot water to kill germs. Scrub your fingers and clean under your fingernails, where germs and bacteria can hide.

Try one of the new anti-bacterial hand sanitizing gels. Gels come in bottles and as pre-packaged towelettes. Carry some in your car or purse. Several of the local grocery stores have antibacterial wipes available at the front door where the carts are lined up. Give the handle bar a quick swipe - you never know what may be lurking there.

Keep the environment clean. Look around your home, car and office. Which surfaces are touched most often by others? When a sick person touches a telephone, computer keyboard, doorknob or faucet, illness can be transmitted to the next person who touches those surfaces.

Keep your distance. If you notice that someone nearby appears to have flu symptoms, keep your distance and avoid touching the same objects.

Get a flu shot. Medical experts say the best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year. At-risk groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions should consider getting an annual flu shot. Sometimes local organizations and employers offer free vaccinations at the onset of flu season.

Protect others, if you become ill, by keeping it to yourself. Those around you will be much happier if you don't make them sick. Many people use their hand to cover their mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing, but may transfer the virus to the next few things they touch, such as a doorknob, keyboard, stapler or other surface. Coughing into a sleeve is better. A handy, disposable tissue is best.

When I was a child, my mother always had us flush germy tissues away, as leaving them in a trash can could pass germs along. Keep your distance from those ugly germs.

Stay home if you're sick. If you have the flu, stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the illness to others. They will really appreciate it. If you have a child, be aware that there are now new regulations and precautions about sending sick children to school. Stomach upsets and running noses and all the other flu symptoms will not be tolerated. Your child could be sent home to recuperate.

For more information, the Centers for Disease Control offers a Web page devoted to the flu at cdc.gov/flu.

The Red Cross will be offering Babysitter's Training over the holiday vacation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, and, repeated, on Thursday, Dec. 27. The class is open for children age 11 and up who are ready to be a babysitter in 2008. Cost is $40 and includes lunch, snacks, materials and a Red Cross certification.

While there are seven blood drives during December in Cayuga County, the last chance to donate blood in 2007 is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, at the chapter office.

Call 252-9596 to register for a donation time.

Susan Marteney is executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross.