Santa Claus won't be delivering toys to all the good little boys and girls of Florida this season over fears of spreading the H1N1 flu.
Santa usually visits our area every Christmas Eve. This year, however, Mr. Claus developed flu-like symptoms just before his scheduled trip and health officials became increasingly concerned about his travel plans.
“It's a cross-contamination issue,” said Bergermeister Meisterberger, spokesperson for the North Pole Health Department. “We just couldn't have a sick Santa going from house to house spreading good cheer and swine flu.” That’s why we asked him to cancel this year’s trip.
Fearing children everywhere would be devastated, Mr. Claus began fervently working with his local health department to find a way to get the toys to the children and ultimately save Christmas. The answer was closer than anyone realized.
The recent economic downturn had not been kind to the North Pole Health Department. Their flu outreach budget was slashed and the health inspectors furloughed. To make ends meet, many inspectors have taken on second jobs. One of those inspectors, Mr. Santa Tizer (and distant cousin of Santa Claus) had been in training at the North Pole Academy to be a mall Santa.
When they heard about Mr. Claus’ dilemma, the Department immediately put him in touch with Mr. Tizer. Inspector Tizer was honored to make the trek for the jolly man in red. “I’ve been training for months to be Mr. Claus' stand-in, I’ve received the H1N1 vaccination”, and I’m ready for this responsibility”, Mr. Tizer noted.
In return for delivering the toys, Mr. Claus agreed to have the elves work overtime to make H1N1 flu information brochures for the health department. Inspector Tizer will be leaving those brochures in the parent’s and children’s stockings when he delivers the toys Christmas Eve.
“It’s a win-win situation for everyone” health department officials said. We needed a cost-effective way to get our message out to every boy and girl and Santa Claus needed someone to deliver the toys. “All I can say is Ho Ho Ho” Mr. Claus responded when asked about the Health Department’s proposal.
The North Pole Health Department’s brochures will be offering the following tips for keeping germs at bay this holiday season:
- Hand sanitizer is no substitute for handwashing. Always wash your hands when a handwash sink is available.
- Consider using hand sanitizer at times such as: before preparing or eating food; after going to the bathroom; before and after tending to someone who is sick; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- When using alcohol-based sanitizers, apply product to the palm of one hand, rub hands together and be sure to rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
- Before you entertain, sanitize handled hard surfaces such as doorknobs, remote controls, appliance handles, light switches, phones, etc
- Make hand sanitizer part of your holiday décor as a helpful reminder for guests to use it.
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