Georgia Coastal Health District

As the spooky season kicks into high gear this weekend, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends the following tips to help ensure everyone has a safe, fun time while making the rounds at fall festivals, trunk-or-treats, parties, and the traditional door-to-door hunt for goodies.

Costumes

• Be sure costumes, masks, wigs, beards, and other accessories are flame-resistant.
• Add reflective tape to costumes, bags, and accessories to increase visibility.
• Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses that can be purchased without a prescription. These may not fit properly and could cause scratches, sores, and other eye injuries.

Pedestrian Safety

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child.
• Caution children against running out from between parked cars, or across yards where obstacles may be hard to spot.
• Stick to walking areas that are well-lit and free of obstacles.
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick to see and be seen.
• Never walk near lit candles, luminaries or pumpkins.
• Avoid distractions from electronic devices.

Safe Homes

• Only trick-or-treat at homes where the parents know who lives there.
• Visit homes that have outdoor lights as a sign of welcome.
• Remove potential obstacles for trick-or-treaters from your own lawn, walkway, porch, and steps.

Treats

• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. If you have any doubt about the safety of a treat, throw it out.
• Examine treats for choking hazards before allowing them to be eaten.
• Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as individual packs of raisins, trail mix, or pretzels.
• For party guests, offer fruits, vegetables, and cheeses, and avoid sugary beverages.
• Drink more water and brush and floss after eating sugary treats to control the formation of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and plaque.

If you aren’t feeling well, skip the Halloween parties and activities. In addition to being the spooky season, it is flu season. DPH recommends everyone six months old and older get the flu vaccine as soon as possible. Additionally, DPH recommends everyone six months old and older be up to date with COVID vaccination and booster shots.

If you have not gotten a flu shot yet, do not wait any longer. Flu activity is already widespread in Georgia – earlier than we’ve seen in recent years.

“Every individual over the age of six months should get a flu vaccine – not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications,” says Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., DPH commissioner. “It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so now is the time to get a flu shot.”

Flu symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person, and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, pregnant women, and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.

Flu vaccine is widely available at public health departments, doctors’ offices, grocery stores, neighborhood clinics and pharmacies. To find a location near you click on https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/. Flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as COVID vaccine, so it’s a good time to get your updated booster, too.

In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend the use of antiviral drugs that fight the flu in your body. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines and are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.

There are other tried and true measures you can take to help prevent the spread of flu:

• Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and warm water. Alcohol based gels are the next best thing if you don’t have access to soap and water.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm to help prevent the spread of the flu.
• Avoid touching your face as flu germs can get into the body through mucus membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes.
• If you are sick, stay home from school or work. Flu sufferers should be free of a fever, without the use of a fever reducer, for at least 24 hours before returning to school or work.
• If you are caring for a sick individual at home, keep them away from common areas of the house and other people as much as possible.

For more information about flu and how to prevent it, log on to dph.ga.gov/flu. You can monitor Georgia weekly influenza reports at https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/influenza/georgia-influenza-activity. The reports are updated on Fridays.

Rain and wind from Hurricane Ian are expected to impact portions of the Coastal Health District later in the week, beginning in the southernmost part of the district. As a result, the following adjustments have been made to operational schedules:

• The Camden County Health Department is suspending operations Wednesday, September 28th through Friday, September 30th.
• Health Departments in all other counties of the Coastal Health District – Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh – will suspend operations on Thursday, September 29th and Friday, September 30th.
• All District offices will also close Thursday and Friday.

The Coastal Health District expects to resume normal operations on Monday, October 3rd.