Did you know that last year, an estimated 171 million people participated in Halloween? Is that not crazy? It often seems like everyone is out and about trick-or-treating and enjoying other festivities. Can you imagine being sick and not being able to celebrate? That’s why our team at AFC Fountain City wants to offer some tips on how to help fend off illness this season! Tips for Staying Healthy This October Who wants to be sick during all the fun fall festivals and Halloween activities around town? No one. Therefore, it’s important that you and your family take action in order to protect yourself from sickness this fall. Start by practicing proper handwashing skills. Teach your children to wash their hands after using the restroom, before eating, and after coming in contact with others who could be sick. Since school is back in session, germs are spreading like crazy. Therefore, it’s important to practice good hand washing skills in order to wash the majority of those germs off your hands! In addition, you want to consider getting the flu vaccine. An annual flu shot is the single best way to prevent the flu. Even if you get a strain of the flu that’s not prevented by the shot, the vaccine will help lessen the severity and duration of the flu. Finally, you want to make sure you and your family are living a healthy lifestyle. From drinking plenty of water and exercising at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week to eating well-balanced healthy meals and getting plenty of quality sleep—your body needs these essentials to help keep your immune system functioning at its best. Halloween Happenings Get your calendars ready! There is a lot of fun to be had this month in and around the Knoxville area. First, if you haven’t been yet, make plans to attend Boo! at the Knoxville Zoo this month! A blend of not-too-scary Halloween fun, it is the perfect family-friendly activity for children and adults of all ages! Plus, how can you beat a day of trick-or-treating with the animals? Also, the Dollywood Harvest Festival kicked off with glowing pumpkins on Sept. 29—and the fun is just getting started! Take the kids to Dollywood in order to enjoy the Harvest Festival that includes the Great Pumpkin LumiNights, which offers a glow maze for kids, costumed characters, pumpkin carving, face painting and more! Finally, if you don’t have time to leave the neighborhood, why not schedule your own trick or treat event? Invite the neighbors and loved ones and host a Halloween Spook-tacular of your own with hayrides, candy and bobbing for apples! Have you gotten your flu shot yet this year? AFC Urgent Care Fountain City is open seven days a week to make getting the flu vaccine more convenient for you and your family.