Flu season is just around the corner and, this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that anyone over the age of 6 months get the flu vaccine. Many providers and local pharmacies at popular corner drug stores are already making the vaccine available. Get the facts about the flu and the 2010-2011 flu vaccine.

Hot weather isn’t just uncomfortable, it can also be dangerous. Excessive heat - when the temperature is at least 10 degrees hotter than average for that region - causes more deaths than any other type of weather. The Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana offers tips to prepare for and stay safe during excessive heat: discuss the importance of heat safety with your family, know who in your neighborhood is at risk (the elderly, young, sick, and overweight), stay well-hydrated, wear light clothing and avoid extreme temperature changes. Read more.

One of the best things all patients can do to improve their own healthcare is to ask their doctors lots of questions. This is especially true when starting a new medication. The Mayo Clinic advises everyone to make sure they understand key information about their prescription and offers a list of questions to be prepared to ask your doctor when taking a new medication. Read more.

A new tropical disturbance is forming in the Caribbean and may move into the Gulf of Mexico next week. It’s important to have detailed plans in place for your family before storms strike. These plans should include where to stay, what to do with pets, where to pack needed medicines, and how to stay in touch with family members should you have to evacuate. Visit www.getagameplan.org for more information on planning for your family’s hurricane safety.

This summer’s first case of West Nile Virus in Louisiana has been confirmed by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH). The virus, which can cause flu-like symptoms and even brain and spinal cord swelling in severe cases, is transfered from person to person by mosquitoes and is most dangerous for people age 65 and over. The reported case was in East Baton Rogue Parish, but DHH recommends that all Louisiana residents take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, such as removing sources of standing water near the house and keeping gutters, pools, and water gardens clean. Click here to read more about the reported case of West Nile Virus. Click here for additional tips to avoid mosquitoes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that air quality is a moderate health concern in Louisiana coastal towns near the oil spill. The assessment that oil is leading to odor-causing pollutants in the air is based on air sampling in Venice and Grand Isle. The EPA recommends that anyone who is especially sensitive to low quality air should avoid prolonged or heavy physical exertion. Click here to read more. Click here for EPA data reports on air quality in areas affected by the oil spill.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is urging residents to sign up for the city’s emergency text-message alert system. In the case of a city wide emergency - such as an approaching hurricane - the system will allow the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to quickly send text-messages with accurate information and important instructions to everyone who is enrolled. To sign up, visit www.nolaready.org or send a text-message to NOLA4U (665248). Read more.

Car seats are valuable tools to protect children on the road, but they need to be age appropriate and correctly installed to be effective. To help parents make road travel safe, pediatricians from Loyola University Health System in Chicago offer these rules for using a car seat: car seats for infants under 20 pounds and 1 year of age should always be rear facing. A front facing car seat shouldthen be used until children are at least 4 years old or weigh more than 40 pounds. Car seats should never be in the front seat, and it is always important to carfully read your car seat’s specific installation instructions. It is also important to remember that parents can set a good example and keep themselves safe by always wearing a seat belt. Read more.

Fireworks are a traditional piece of 4th of July celebrations, but the Consumer Products and Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning people about the dangers of setting off personal fireworks. Last year there were nearly 9,000 emergency room visits for fireworks related injuries. The majority of these injuries involved people under the age of 20, and many resulted in the loss of limbs. Even the smallest and most common personal fireworks can cause burns and dangerous injuries to the hands, face, and head. While the safest option is to just enjoy your town’s professional fireworks display, if you do choose to use personal fireworks, be sure to move back a safe distance immediately after lighting and to only let adults handle the devices. Read more.

The American Red Cross and the YMCA have started the “Pool Safely” campaign to promote pool safety for children. Safe pools include barriers to protect young children from going in unsupervised and alarms on doors to alert parents if their children go out to the pool unexpectedly. Parents can also improve their family’s safety by getting trained in basic water rescue skills, first aid, and CPR, and by keeping a first aid kit near the pool. Watch the campaign’s new PSA above and visit www.poolsafety.gov for more information.