EDITOR’S NOTE: “Chief’s Corner” is a regular feature in the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza from North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Chief Mike Brown, offering information, tips and education material on fire safety, emergency preparedness and other pertinent topics.

With the abundance of holiday activities, it is important to take additional measures to prevent getting or spreading disease.

If you haven’t gotten your flu vaccination yet this season, now is the time. Here are some helpful tips to follow, as well:

---

---

• If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

• Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and discard the tissue in the trash.

---

---

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If these are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to not travel when you are ill. People with flu-like symptoms should wait to travel until at least 24 hours after their fever has subsided without the use of fever-lowering medications.

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District and Incline Village Community Hospital offer flu vaccinations to individuals over the age of three years, for as long as supplies last.

Each vaccine is $20, payable by cash or check. If you are a Medicare patient, Medicare billing will also be available, so please bring your card so a copy can be made to submit for insurance reimbursement.

Vaccines administered by NLTFPD will be offered at the fire district’s main station at 875 Tanager St. Vaccines will not be available at the Crystal Bay or Mount Rose Stations.

For your convenience, fire district personnel are available to visit homes or businesses by appointment. There is no additional charge for this service; however, the $20 fee still applies.

Please note that the vaccines are only for individuals 3 years of age and older; we recommend younger children be taken to their pediatrician.

To make an at-home or place-of-business appointment or to find out about flu vaccine information, please call the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District at 775-831-0351, ext. 0.

No appointment is necessary for walk-in shots at the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District main fire station.