BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO), under the leadership of Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, urges all residents and visitors to prioritize health and safety during the holiday season. As festivities approach, the office launches its “Yuletide Season Health Nudges” campaign to promote safe practices and protect the community. Dr. Brillantes reminds 8 health nudges to residents and tourists alike before enjoying the holidays.

“𝐘𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐍𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐒”:

• 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗬𝗔𝗛𝗘: 𝗡𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱.

Plan your trips ahead and ensure that whoever is driving refrains from drinking alcohol. Drivers should be well-rested before getting behind the wheel to prevent fatigue-related accidents. Regularly inspect your vehicle, particularly the brakes, tires, and lights, before traveling to guarantee roadworthiness and reduce the risk of vehicular mishaps during the busy holiday season.

• 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗨𝗣 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆.

If you are feeling unwell, especially if you have a cough or cold, wear a mask to prevent the spread of illness. This is particularly important when interacting with vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. Practicing good respiratory hygiene helps protect not only your loved ones but also the wider community.

• 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗: 𝗧𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀, 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰. 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗮𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱. 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟯 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀.

Maintain strict hygiene when preparing, cooking, and storing food. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food, cook meals to proper temperatures, and refrigerate leftovers promptly.

These habits help prevent foodborne illnesses like gastroenteritis, which can quickly spread during gatherings where food is shared. For drinking water, if bottled water is not available, make sure to boil water for at least 3 minutes for drinking water. For leftover food, it is generally recommended to reheat food only once for optimal safety, as each reheating cycle increases bacterial risk by passing through the danger zone (40-140°F).

• 𝗘𝗡𝗝𝗢𝗬 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗦: 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗮. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.

The holidays are often marked by indulgent feasts, but balance is key. Alongside traditional favorites like lechon or watwat, make sure to serve and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. A balanced diet supports your immune system and overall health. Having a meal with only meat and rice, especially on a daily basis, will increase your risk for non-communicable diseases that cause heart failure, stroke, and diabetes, among others.

• 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀.

Continue taking all prescribed maintenance medications, even amidst the excitement of the season. Set reminders if needed, and bring medicines with you if you will be traveling or attending events. Consistency in medication helps manage chronic conditions and prevents emergencies.

• 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗟𝗬: 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

On the evening of December 21, 2025, an 11-year-old male from Lower Dagsian was rushed to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center after an illegal firecracker, identified as a “5-Star,” exploded while in his possession. While the patient was successfully treated with anti-tetanus serums and has since been discharged, health officials warn that the incident could have been far more tragic.

Instead of using firecrackers, which can cause injuries and fires, opt for safer ways to make noise and celebrate, such as banging gongs, pans, or other safe objects. This tradition not only protects individuals from harm but also promotes a safer community celebration.

• 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗘𝗞𝗝𝗔𝗗: 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁, 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.

One of the CHSO’s advocacies is to promote active mobility such as walking, jogging, biking, and Zumba sessions daily. Sedentary lifestyle (or the lack of exercise) is a contributory factor to major illnesses in the city, such as heart diseases, cancer, among others. Promoting Zumba sessions during holiday activities and celebrations will help prevent such deadly illnesses.

• 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗠: 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀, 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Visitors are likewise advised to bring warm clothing, as the cool Baguio breeze might affect their immunity to certain illnesses. Should tourists plan to visit the city, make sure they have no alarming symptoms that might affect their health during their travel.

Make sure they are well rested, not ill, and bring their medications with them before travelling. Tourists are also reminded to go through the policies of the city, such as the adherence to the Anti-Smoking and Anti-Vaping ordinance, prohibiting smoking and vaping in all public places.