Disinfect surfaces that

may be contaminated

Death Rate From Flu is Hard to

Calculate

Flu-related deaths range from

about 3,000 to 49,000 a year,

depending on the severity of

the outbreak.

Keep yourself and others

safer by getting a flu shot.

Vaccines do not give people

the flu. For more information

about how flu vaccines work,

visit the CDC website. To see

a weekly report on flu activity

across the U.S., check out

FluView. The CDC FluView

report provides weekly

influenza surveillance

information in the United

States. This series of

dynamic visualizations allow

any Internet user to access

influenza information

collected by CDC’s

monitoring systems.

Cited: http://www.nsc.org/

learn/safety-knowledge/Pages/

flu-vaccination-facts.aspx

Fever, headache, fatigue, dry

cough, sore throat, stuffy

nose, nausea: If these

symptoms hit, you may have

been bitten by the flu bug.

Who is Most Vulnerable?

During the 2014-'15 flu

season, people over age 65

comprised 60% of all cases of

flu in the U.S., according to

the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention. In

February that year, t he

number of people over age 65

hospitalized for flu was the

most since the CDC began

recording those numbers in

2005.

Children from birth to age 4

represented the second-

highest hospitalization rate.

A Flu Epidemic Every Year

Flu season occurs in the fall

and winter, peaking between

late November and

early March, and it's an

epidemic every year. The

makeup of flu viruses can

change from year to year,

making it difficult to predict.

Flu spreads through droplets

when people sneeze or cough,

and on surfaces. People are

contagious one day before

symptoms appear and up to a

week after. When you don't

feel well, it's best to take

care of yourself and

co-workers by staying home.

And don't go back to work

(or school) for at least 24

hours after a fever is gone.

What Can You do to Stay

Healthy?

CDC recommends everyone

older than 6 months get an

annual flu vaccine as soon

as the vaccine becomes

available; October is the

ideal time to get vaccinated,

but it's never too late

If you don't like needles,

ask your doctor if a nasal flu

spray is available

Avoid being around sick

people if possible

Wash your hands

frequently with soap and

water, or use hand sanitizer

Cover your mouth when

coughing or sneezing,

preferably with the inside of

your arm rather than your

hand

Avoid touching your

face

Flu Season

I N S I D E

T H I S I S S U E :

Flue Season 1

Flu Immun-

ization Clinic

2

Autumn Fire

Safety

2

Fire Safety

Word search

2

Antibiotics 3

Food Safety—

Holiday

Cooking

4

FDH Contact

Card

5

FDH Health Matters I S S U E 1 1 — F A L L 2 0 1 7

Carbon Mon-

oxide Pois-

5

Turn to Page 2

to see when we

hold our Clin-

ics.

Call us today

to Schedule!

740-652-2800

P A G E 2

FDH Immunization

Clinics are held every

Tuesday. We are able

to administer immun-

izations to children (18

and younger), travel-

ing adults., Flu Shots

or TB Tests. Addition-

ally, every 1st and 3rd

Tuesday we stay open

later to help accom-

modate our communi-

ty. Immunizations are

done by appointment

ONLY

Autumn Fire Safety

Flu Immunizations Clinics The Fairfield Department of Health is holding a Flu Clinic on:

Date: October 24th, 2017

Time: 2:30PM-5:00PM

Location: 1550 Sheridan Drive Suite 100 Lancaster Ohio

Insurances, Medicaid, and cash will be accepted as payment. (Please call to

verify if we accept private insurance).

For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 740-652-

2800.

For All Ages!!

Everyone in your family

should know their role in

your home’s fire safety plan.

Most importantly, kids

should be familiar with how

smoke detectors sound and

what your home fire escape

plan is.

Walk through your home

and inspect all possible

escape routes. Everyone in

the family needs to

understand the escape plan.

When you “Do the Drill”,

make sure to check that the

designated escape routes are

clear and doors and windows

can be opened easily by

children.

EVERYONE in your family

has a role to play in your

home’s fire safety. Both

adults and kids should be

familiar with smoke alarms

and home fire escape

planning.

Read more at http://

F D H H E A L T H M A T T E R S

Antibiotics

P A G E 3 I S S U E 1 1 — F A L L 2 0 1 7

Antibiotic resistance is a growing prob-

lem, both in the United States and

across the world. The main driving fac-

tors behind antibiotic resistance are

the overuse and misuse of

antibiotics. Learn more below about

when antibiotics are and are not need-

ed for common infections, and the

potential harms of using antibiotics.

Are you aware that colds, flu, most sore

throats, bronchitis, and many sinus

and ear infections are caused

by viruses? Did you know that antibiot-

ics do not help fight viruses? It’s true.

For the overwhelming majority of

common respiratory infec-

tions, antibiotics are not helpful.

Antibiotics cure bacterial infections, not

viral infections such as:

Colds or flu

Most coughs and bronchitis

Most sore throats

Runny noses

Taking antibiotics for viral infections

will not:

Cure the infection

Keep other individuals from catch-

ing the illness

Help you feel better

Taking antibiotics when you have a

virus may do more harm than good:

Taking antibiotics increases your

risk of getting an antibiotic-

resistant

infection later.

Antibiotics kill the healthy

bacteria in the gut, allowing

more harmful bacteria, such

as C. difficile, to grow in

its place.

Although this infection is more

commonly found in hospitals,

it also occurs in clinics out-

side of the hospital.

Antibiotics cause 1 out of 5

emergency department visits for

adverse drug events.

Antibiotics are the most com-

mon cause of emer-

gency department visits for

adverse drug events in chil-

dren under 18 years of age.

It’s important to only take antibi-

otics for bacterial infections

since they can put you or your

child at risk for harmful side ef-

fects and antibiotic - resistant

infections.

Cited: www.cdc.gov

Food Safety - Holiday Cooking

P A G E 4 I S S U E 1 1 — F A L L 2 0 1 7

The Thanksgiving meal is the largest

many cooks prepare each year. Getting it

just right, especially the turkey, brings a

fair amount of pressure whether or not a

host is experienced with roasting one.

Follow these tips to make sure your

Thanksgiving meal is both delicious and

safe to serve.

Steps to follow before cooking a turkey:

Read labels carefully. Temperature

labels show if the bird is fresh or frozen. If

you plan to serve a fresh turkey, purchase

it no more than two days before Thanks-

giving.

Purchase two thermometers: a refriger-

ator thermometer to ensure the turkey is

stored at 40 °F or slightly below and a

food thermometer to make sure the

cooked turkey reaches a safe 165 °F.

Thaw the turkey by using the microwave, the

cold water method, or the refrigerator. The

refrigerator method is USDA recommended.

Steps to follow when cooking a turkey:

Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before touching any food to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness.

Do not wash the turkey. This only spreads pathogens onto kitchen sur-faces. The only way to kill bacteria that causes foodborne illness is to ful-ly cook the turkey.

Keep raw turkey separated from all other foods at all times.

Use separate cutting boards, plates, and utensils when handling raw tur-key to avoid cross-contamination. Wash items that have touched raw

meat with warm soap and water, or place them in a dishwasher.

Cook the turkey until it reaches 165 °F, as measured by a food thermometer. Check the turkey’s temperature by insert-ing the thermometer in three places: the thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the thigh, and the innermost part of the wing.

Steps to follow when consum-ing leftover Thanksgiving food:

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours to prevent bacteria from growing on the food.

Store leftovers in shallow pans or containers to decrease cooling time. This prevents the food from spending too much time at unsafe temperatures (between 40 °F to 140 °F).

Do not store stuffing inside a leftover turkey. Remove the stuffing from the turkey, and refrigerate the stuffing and the meat separately.

Avoid consuming leftovers that have been left in the refrig-erator for longer than 3 or 4 days (next Tuesday to be exact). Use the freezer to store lefto-vers for longer periods of time.

Keep leftovers in a cooler with

ice or frozen gel packs if the food

is traveling home with a guest

who lives more than two hours

away.

Cited: FoodSafety.gov

Turkey Cooking Chart

Ham Cooking Chart

feet away from your home, doors, and windows.

ADDITIONAL TIPS: Never run a motor vehicle, generator,

pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine less than 20 feet from an open window, door, or vent where exhaust can vent into an enclosed area.

Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper.

If conditions are too hot, seek shelter with friends or at a community shelter.

If CO poisoning is suspected, consult a health care professional right away.

CO poisoning is entirely preventable. You can protect yourself and your family by acting wisely in case of a power outage and learning the symptoms of CO poisoning.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, color-

less gas that kills without warning. It claims

the lives of hundreds of people every year

and makes thousands more ill. Many house-

hold items including gas- and oil-burning

furnaces, portable generators, and charcoal

grills produce this poison gas. Following these

important steps can keep your family safe.

CO DETECTORS Install battery-operated or battery back-up CO

detectors near every sleeping area in your home.

Check CO detectors regularly to be sure they are

functioning properly.

OIL & GAS FURNACES • Have your furnace inspected every year.

PORTABLE GENERATORS • Never use a generator inside your home or

garage, even if doors and windows are open.

Only use generators outside, more than 20

1550 Sheridan Drive Suite 100

Lancaster Ohio 43130

Phone: 740-652-2800

Fax: 740-689-6080

Website: http://www.myfdh.org/

Facebook: Fairfield Department of Health

Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Fairfield Department of Health

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Committed To Helping You Stay Healthy ....... Serving Fairfield County Since 1893

The Fairfield Department of Health is committed to serving

the Fairfield County community by preventing disease,

protecting the environment, and promoting healthy

lifestyles.

Environmental: Food Protection & Education, Plumbing,

Private Water Systems, Licensed Tattoo Facilities, Local

Schools, Lot Splits, Public Pools, Rabies & Animal Bites,

Sewage Treatment, Water Samples, Vector Control (Ticks

and Mosquitoes)

Nursing: Immunizations for Travelers & Children

Vital Statistics: Birth & Death Certificates

WIC: Supplemental Program for Women and Children

under 5