Avoid the Flu this Season: Livingston Health Department to Hold Fall Flu Clinic on Wednesday, September 14 and September 28

The Nursing Division of the Livingston Health Department would like to remind its residents about the upcoming Flu Clinics on Wednesday, September 14 and Wednesday September 28, 2016. The flu clinics will be held at the Livingston Senior/Community Center between the hours of 10 am and 12 pm on those days. Read on for some tips to stay healthy and avoid the flu this year.

First and foremost, get the flu shot and wash your hands! Good hand hygiene can drastically reduce your chances of contracting the flu. Stay away from hospitals and crowded places as often as possible this flu season. Bring hand sanitizer with you when going out to the supermarket or while running errands, and try your best not to touch your face. Avoid putting your hands in or near your mouth. Use lip balm tubes that do not require you to use your fingers for application, and do not share lip balm, eating utensils, drinks, or dental care items (like toothpaste tubes) with others.

If you do come down with a cold or the flu, make sure to throw away your old toothbrush as soon as you begin to feel ill. Use a new toothbrush after your symptoms have resolved and/or you have started a course of treatment, and get a new one again after you have recovered. Make sure to regularly disinfect bathroom sinks, door knobs, and other high traffic areas of the home. Also, don’t forget to open your windows at least once a week to remove stagnant air.

Check and change air filters in your home as recommended on packaging, especially during the winter and summer months when most windows are closed. Air filters in your home can build up with pet dander, bacteria, and allergens if left unmaintained. This can then cause undesirable air to circulate around your home and even cause some flu-like symptoms. Last but not least, try to consume probiotics; a healthy digestive tract helps promotes overall health and immune support. The Livingston Health Department wishes you to stay well this upcoming flu season!

To learn more about Flu Clinics or the upcoming 2016 Fall Health Fair (September 21 between 8:30 am and 11:30 am) contact the nursing division at 973-535-7961 x 227, 228, or 243 or visit the Health Department page on the Township’s website, www.livingstonnj.org. If you or your loved one is home bound, we also do homebound flu shots! Please call the number above to schedule your homebound flu shot appointment. For additional reading on the flu, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu.