Think you might have the flu? Our new Get Ready graphic can help

Ah-choo! Oh, no! Am I getting sick? Is it the flu?

Spot your symptoms this flu season with Get Ready’s quick and simple flowchart graphic. 
You can trace your symptoms to help determine if you’ve got the flu, and then learn what to do.

Share this infographic with your friends, family, neighbors and classmates to help them be a little more prepared this flu season.

If you have flu symptoms and they continue to get worse, you should see a doctor. Whether or not you have the flu, it’s important to get a flu shot every year and wash your hands with soap and water.

For even more flu-fighting tips, check our flu and hand-washing fact sheets.

Enjoying the winter weather? Watch out for hypothermia and frostbite

Winter can be wonderful: Think hot chocolate, cozy fires and fuzzy socks. But the freezing cold weather? Not so wonderful. Just ask folks on the East Coast this week.

In fact, researchers found last year that even in Texas, which is not known for its harsh winters, cold weather increases risk of death. The risk is especially high for people with heart conditions or breathing problems.

The reason cold weather is dangerous is because when the temperature drops, your body has to work harder to keep your blood circulating and maintain a healthy body temp.

One way cold weather can cause serious health problems is through hypothermia. It’s caused by long exposures to really cold temperatures. Your body begins to lose heat fast and you use up your stored energy.

If you’re out in cold weather, watch out for shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech, fumbling of your hands and drowsiness. If you notice these signs, check your temperature. If it is below 95 degrees, get medical help right away, as it’s an emergency.

Frostbite is another serious risk when you’re outside in the cold. It happens when parts of your body — usually fingers, nose or toes — become so cold that blood can’t flow to them. Watch out for white or grayish-yellow skin, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy or numbness.

The best way to avoid hypothermia and frostbite is to wear lots of layers, hats, gloves and water-resistant shoes when you go outside in cold weather. This is especially important for seniors, people with heart or circulation problems, young children and anyone who will be outside in the cold for a long time.

All this doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in winter weather. Snowball fights, ice skating and snow angels are irresistible. Just be sure to play it safe when you’re out there.

For more tips for staying safe this winter, check out Get Ready’s Winter Ready page, with free fact sheets you can share. And take a look at this great graphic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Preparedness just got a little more patriotic. Get Ready’s new presidential-themed calendar is here!

Even though 2018 is bringing new beginnings, there’s no harm in reflecting on the past.

APHA’s Get Ready campaign is switching things up this year with its new presidential-themed calendar. Our fun 2018 calendar shares tips for preparing for disasters, right from the mouths of some of America’s most iconic presidents. (Or at least in the words we made up for them to say. It’s all in fun, we promise.)

A state of emergency doesn’t always have to involve politics. Emergencies involve all kinds of disasters and hazards, such as pandemic flu, infectious disease, bad weather, natural disasters and more. That’s why using our “POTUS Prepares” calendar will help you be prepared year-round.

Along with managing your schedule, the calendar will help you keep track of public health-related
events. You can plan ahead for National Public Health Week in the spring, as well as Get Ready Day and APHA’s 2018 Annual Meeting and Expo in the fall.

The calendar even tells you when daylight saving time begins and ends as reminders to update your emergency supplies.

Download and print your calendar today!

Wildfire season is getting worse: Our Get Ready Storify report shows how to be ready

Wildfires are becoming a lot more common and dangerous. 

Recent fires in southern California have threatened homes and lives across the region. And fires in the state are expected to keep occurring, thanks to climate change and other factors. Even if you don’t live in California, it’s important to always be prepared for the threat of a wildfire. 

Get Ready’s latest Storify report brings you up to date on this year’s unusually long wildfire season. It also has the information to help be prepared before, during and after a wildfire, from receiving alerts to safely evacuating. 

Check it out now.

Photo: Crews set fire back burn to stop a fire in San Diego from advancing westward in October 2007. Photo by Andrea Booher, courtesy FEMA

Get Ready Mailbag: What’s the deal with seasonal flu?

Welcome to another installment of the Get Ready Mailbag, when we take time to answer questions sent our way by readers like you. Have a question you want answered? Send an email to getready@apha.org.

Q: The flu comes along every year. Do I really have to worry about it?

A: Thanks for asking! It seems like every year we hear about the flu. But this year’s flu is not necessarily the same old flu that made everyone sick last year. Flu viruses are always changing, meaning that last year’s vaccination won’t protect you now.

States around the country are already reporting flu cases, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly map shows. This means we’re off to a stronger start to the season than last year. So the short answer is, yes, you should be concerned about the flu.

Here’s why: The flu can be more serious than you think. Aside from some typical symptoms — fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, fatigue and even vomiting and diarrhea — the flu can be deadly. Everyone can get sick but some are at greater risk, including seniors, young children and pregnant women.

More than 560 people have already been hospitalized because of flu this season in the U.S. and five children have died, CDC reports.

The best way to avoid the flu is by getting your flu shot. The flu shot won’t give you the flu, if that’s what you might be worried about. CDC recommends that everyone 6 months or older get a flu shot each year. However, the flu shot isn’t for everyone. If you have an allergy or other condition that might make it unsafe, you should ask your doctor first.

To protect yourself and others around you, it is also a good idea to wash your hands often and avoid touching your face, nose, mouth and eyes. Wash your hands with soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds.

Find a convenient location to get your flu shot with Healthmap Vaccine Finder. And learn even more about the flu with our Get Ready fact sheet, which is great to share at home, the office or school.