Swine flu, or H1N1, is taking no time off this holiday season. It's why one jolly old elf, who sees thousands of kids each year, is taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease to himself and others.
It's hard to stay jolly this holiday season when you're out sick. So, santa-tizing means all those steps that Santa's helpers are taking, to prevent the spread of swine flu.
This year, with swine flu a big concern, a Santa's helper at Inlet Square Mall is encouraging kids to use hand sanitizer before they talk to him and he's staying up to date on his vaccinations, including H1N1.
"I've had that, I've had the regular flu shot and I've also had the pneumonia shot. So I've had three injections," said Marland Gammon, a Santa's helper.
Gammon sees 6 to 8 thousand kids a year at the mall and says, in his 12 Christmas seasons doing this, he's only missed one day due to illness. But Gammon thinks exposure to so many sick children over the years is one reason why he stays healthy.
"I think after a while you build some personal immunities to this too," Gammon said.
When a child is on his lap, Gammon says he'll take the time to talk to the child about healthy practices, like eating vegetables and washing hands. He sees many kids come to him with sniffles and coughs, but this Santa's helper won't turn any of them away.
"I will not discourage a child by mentioning it. I take the child as they are."
Gammon has noticed that kids seem to be getting the message about preventing the flu this season.
He's seen several of them coughing into their sleeve and says that's a good sign.
"To see that happen 3 or 4 times already, I think shows that parents are working with them and doing the right things with them so I think that's healthy," Gammon said.
A non-profit group called Santa America came up with the term "santatizing," and Tuesday they're starting a public relations campaign to raise awareness about it. They want to make sure that this holiday season, Rudolph is the only one with a red nose.
The Centers for Disease Control says widespread swine flu infections were reported in 32 states this month.
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