Simple Holiday Crafts for Kids

Giant Paper Snowflakes

Materials: Brown paper lunch bags, scissors, glue, tape, pencil, string, or yarn.

Cut the first brown paper lunch bag on each side of the top, angling in to form a point. With each of the other bags, trace the cut line of your first one, cutting them all to match as closely as possible. Next, place glue from the bottom of the first bag up to the part that was cut, leaving the triangular top free from glue. Place another bag on top and continue adding bags until you can connect the first bag and last bag easily to form a snowflake. On the last bag, tape some string or yarn that will be used to hang the snowflake, then glue it to the first bag to finish your snowflake. You can create more snowflakes with different patterns by cutting small shapes out from the sides of the bags and gluing them together. Hang your snowflakes proudly for the winter season!

Accessories Shoes • Activewear • 2115 S. Minnesota Ave.

Cute Hand-Embroidered Gift Tags

Materials: Blank gift tags, yarn, black marker, pencil, and a hole puncher.

Draw some festive, simple designs on the back of the gift tags, leaving room at the bottom for some writing. Using a hole puncher, punch holes at the points of your designs, to create a path for your yarn. Thread the yarn through the holes and find your way from one hole to the other to create a similar design with yarn on the other side of your gift tags. Once you are happy with your result, choose a festive word to write on the bottom of your tag, and secure it to your gift. These will make the perfect replacements for greeting cards and are crafty and cute.

BY AVERA HEALTH

Do your job. Here in the Midwest, our strong work ethic is almost taken for granted.

However, when you’re sick, it’s better to set aside this attitude instead of “gutting it out.” That way you’re not potentially shedding a virus around the workplace. This is especially true for anytime you’re experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, which could be a sign of COVID-19. When Should I Stay Home?

Fenil Patel, MD, a family medicine physician with Avera Medical Group McGreevy 69th & Western, said we can all use a bit more education on this topic. When we’re running a temperature, coughing or suffering from symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting, we’re more than likely making others ill.

“You’re actually not helping your business, company or team by coming in sick,” he said. “What if your coworker gets sick and passes that to an infant or elderly person? You’re doing everyone more of a favor by just staying home.”

Patel said you’ll share the sickness if you go in and tough it out. “You probably won’t be too productive anyway,” he added. “Someone may take your germs and share them.”

Too often, people go in, figuring it’s expected. But when employers push people

to come in, it’s counterintuitive. That sick employee will spread it around, and then you’ll be even more short-handed.

If you feel an illness coming on, there are some guidelines that can help you make the best decision. You can: • Treat symptoms early and aggressively with over-the-counter medicines. • Take multivitamins, especially ones with plenty of vitamin C, to try and zap the germs upfront. • Hydrate and rest as much as you can to fight the sickness from progressing.

Should I Go to Work with a Fever?

A fever is one clear sign of sickness. If your fever is 100.5 degrees F or higher, stay home. Other signs that you’re too sick to go to work include: • Coughing • Runny nose • Headaches • Confusion

Try to take care as best as you can for the first 48-72 hours. During this time is when you’re most likely to unknowingly share your illness.

“Even doctors should stay home and recover instead of coming in,” Patel said. “So we practice our own advice — and we hope you will as well.”

Patel said workers can show respect for their teammates, their teammates’ families — and for their customers. “Your team will be OK. They’ll be glad to see you back at work when you’re feeling better,” said Patel.

What Happens if You Get the Flu or COVID-19

Patel said if you have an active cough or a lowgrade fever, you could have the flu — especially if you didn’t get your seasonal vaccine.

“It’s important to remember that flu and COVID vaccines can help prevent worsening symptoms,” he said. “The treatments we can provide work best if patients get them right away.”

Anytime you have cold or flu-like symptoms, it’s important to be tested for COVID-19, too. If an at-home test is positive, you can trust that it’s accurate. You should isolate at home. If the at-home test is negative, you may want to confirm it. You can do that with a PCR test at your clinic or pharmacy.

At-home tests might not show a positive result until your viral load is high enough, which could be a few days into the illness. Even if you’re vaccinated, it could be a breakthrough case of COVID-19. Even if you’ve had it in the past, you can get it again.

“Immunity of any kind isn’t permanent, so get the bivalent COVID-19 booster if you haven’t already,” he added. Learn more about the new COVID-19 boosters.

Some May Need to See Their Doctor

Young children, older folks and anyone with a compromised immune system, such as a chemotherapy patient, should see their doctor right away when facing symptoms. If a fever exceeds 102 degrees F — especially after taking ibuprofen to tamp it down — make an appointment.

“We ask if the person calling is in respiratory distress or has an altered mental status or any sort of distress,” Patel said. “If they do, we have them come in.”

Virtual visits via smartphone or laptop also can help, especially for those people who’d prefer to be seen without leaving home.

Stay Home and Take Care of Yourself

Once you’ve decided to stay home, use over-the-counter medicine to treat symptoms. Drink plenty of water and juice. Eat nutritious foods, including comfort foods. Soups and juices offer vitamins and comfort.

Drinking lots of water helps your body fight germs, too. But it’s a myth to believe that you can “flush” your system faster with lots of fluids.

“Even mild dehydration can worsen symptoms or make them linger,” said Patel. “Rest, drink water and juice and let your body recover. It can’t be rushed.”

Understand and fight for your health against COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and other respiratory diseases. That way, you’re prepared to protect yourself, your loved ones, coworkers and your community.