The holiday season is a joyous time for many as we flitter and flutter about, running from one gathering to another. And for some, turning your homes into personal winter wonderlands is high on the priority list. But decking the halls comes with a major responsibility as well—attending to the safety of you and yours.

According to varying reports, the average American spends anywhere from 600 to 800 hours in his or her car every year. Whether commuting to work, going out on the town, or traveling to visit friends and family this holiday season, chances are you will face some chilly winter temperatures, and maybe even harsh winter weather, in the months ahead. Is your car ready? 

The Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) is doing an exercise to run through a scary, but very possible, emergency scenario—the threat of any new emerging infectious disease. Not only will Shelby County benefit from the knowledge the department will gain by testing its capabilities to quickly mass vaccinate the public, but people also can benefit by participating and getting a free flu shot. 

It’s shaping up to be a beautiful weekend to join Ready Shelby and some of our favorite partners at our fourth Ready Shelby Day at the Zoo, taking place this Saturday, Oct. 19. All activities are free with your Zoo admission or membership. 

Autumn is finally here, and people all over the Mid-South are taking to the time-honored tradition of gathering around a campfire. Cool nights, ghost stories, and maybe even a S’more or two always make for great fall memories; but, as with any activity involving extreme heat or fire, one must always take precautions.

There are definitely several good reasons that October is National Fire Prevention Month. As people all over strike up campfires in the woods, bonfires on the bank or firepit fires in their backyards, here are a few fire safety tips one should always keep in mind.

As students of all ages head back to school this fall, their minds—and their parents’ minds—are no doubt on hyper-drive pondering things like new class schedules, after-school activities, notebooks and folders, syllabi, locker combinations … the list goes on. But one very important item on everyone’s back-to-school checklist should be emergency preparedness, and it often gets pushed to the bottom of the list. The solution is easy ... have the conversation. 

In a crisis, it’s the blood on the shelves of local hospitals and blood banks that helps victims of emergencies and disaster. Since more than 25 percent of the local blood supply comes from donors under age 25 who participate in school-based events, summer presents a real challenge. Four years ago, Lifeblood created Donor Fest with a goal of collecting at least 300 units—our community’s typical daily usage—in a single-day event. 

With a full week of temps in the upper 90s, summer is in full-on, hot-blazin’ glory here in Shelby County. And with the July 4th weekend just days away, many will be heading to local lakes and private and public pools to cool off. With beach towels, noodles and sunscreen in tow, families can spend all day by the water; but it’s important that everyone stay attentive and watchful over family, friends and fellow swimmers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning comes second only to car accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1-14.