Flu season upon us so be sure to get your shot today

Flu season is upon us, and the Centers for Disease Control is recommending you get your immunization early this year. Last year’s flu season was one of the worst in recent years and hospital emergency rooms were packed with patients showing flu-like symptoms. One of the best ways to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. Immunizations are available—for a fee—at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center’s HealthCare Center on our main campus. To make an appointment, call 216.241.6201.[more]

Here are some other tips to protect yourself and those you love from the flu this year:

• Flu can survive for up to eight hours on surfaces. Keep your hands clean by washing them several times a day or by using hand sanitizers.
• Keep your hands away from your face. We touch our faces about 2,000 times per day. The flu virus can enter our bodies through our eyes and nose. Avoid touching your face to help prevent you from getting sick.
• Use proper respiratory etiquette. When we cough or sneeze, droplets can spread three to six feet away—always cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sneeze/cough into your elbow or shoulder. Clean your hands after coughing or using a tissue.
• If you are experiencing flu symptoms, stay at home away from others. This puts others at risk of developing flu. If you have to leave the house, protect yourself and others by wearing a surgical mask.