🩺 Flu Is Early but Still Rated Low in Severity, Two Recalls for Cozy-Season Gear, Paid Health Training at Erlanger Bledsoe and a Fridge Card for Rural Health Day: Your Healthy Valley Report

Or: Flu Is Up but Not Rough So Far, Check the Patio Fire Pit and the Backup Generator, Learn a Health Job While You Get Paid and Tape Six Numbers to the Fridge

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Friday, November 13, 2026

Good afternoon, Valley. The National Weather Service has Dunlap partly sunny, near 47 this afternoon, with a low around 31 tonight and about 28 Saturday night. Then it warms up a little each day, to near 67 by Thursday. Today’s report is a calm one, with four things to know and check:

First, the CDC posted its weekly flu report this morning. Flu is still climbing earlier than usual, but the CDC rates the season’s severity as “low” for every age group so far. Second, two recalls fit the season: Sharper Image tabletop fire pits, sold at big stores like Walmart, Lowe’s and Walgreens, and a Cummins Onan portable generator. Third, Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital is looking for Valley folks who’d like paid training for a healthcare job. Interest forms are due Wednesday, Nov. 18. Fourth, National Rural Health Day is Thursday, Nov. 19, so we made you a simple fridge card of local health numbers.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• 🤒 Flu is up, but the CDC still calls it “low” severity so far. If you get sick and you’re 65 or older or have a long-term health problem, call your doctor on the first day. Flu medicines work best when started early.
• 🔥 Own a small Sharper Image tabletop fire pit? Stop using it. You can get a full refund at 855-215-5032 or firepitrecall.expertinquiry.com.
• ⚡ Own a dark gray Cummins Onan P5000iDF generator? Stop using it and get a free repair. Call 800-286-6467.
• 🏥 Want a health job? Fill out Erlanger Bledsoe’s apprenticeship interest form by Wed., Nov. 18.
• 📋 Fridge card: copy the six numbers below onto an index card and tape it where you’ll see it.

🤒 Today’s Flu Report: Still Early and Climbing, but Rated “Low” in Severity

This is national news from the CDC’s weekly FluView report, posted this morning, Nov. 13. It covers the week that ended Nov. 7. It doesn’t give a Sequatchie County count. The CDC says flu keeps rising in many parts of the country and is higher than usual for this time of year. But here are the calmer parts of the same report:

• Severity is “low” so far. The CDC’s early check rates this season’s severity as low for children, adults and adults 65 and older. It notes that could change as flu keeps rising.
• Early doesn’t mean worse. The CDC repeats that an early start “does not necessarily lead to a higher seasonal peak or greater overall severity.”
• Doctor visits: nationally, 3.2% of doctor and emergency visits were for flu-like illness, a bit above the usual baseline of 2.9%. Our region, which includes Tennessee, is also above its baseline.
• A good early sign: most of the flu viruses the CDC lab-tested so far closely matched the strains used to make this year’s flu shots. The CDC says it’s still too early to know how well the shot will work this season.
• The one new tip: the CDC says prescription flu medicines should be started as early as possible, and they matter most for people at higher risk. In the report, people 65 and older had the highest rate of flu hospital stays.

What it means for you: Think of flu medicine like putting out a grease fire. It works best in the first minute, not after the whole stove is going. If fever and aches hit and you’re 65 or older, pregnant or living with a health problem like diabetes, heart disease or lung disease, call your doctor the same day. Don’t wait to see if it passes. No flu shot yet? The Sequatchie County Health Department is at (423) 949-3619, and most pharmacies carry them, too.

👉 Read more (CDC FluView: Week 44 flu report)

🔥 Two Recalls for Cozy-Season Gear: A Tabletop Fire Pit and a Backup Generator

These are national recalls posted Nov. 12 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The fire pits were sold at stores we have around here, so they’re worth a look. We don’t know of any local injuries.

1. Sharper Image Tabletop Fire Pits and Tabletop Infinity Fire Pits (about 265,000 sold)

• What they look like: small fire pits for a patio table. One kind has a small round concrete body with a snuff-out lid. The “Infinity” kind has a steel base with glass sides. Both have a “77” logo on the front and a lot-code sticker under the base.
• The problem: burning fuel can escape, or a flame can shoot back toward the fuel bottle. Four people were badly burned.
• Where sold: Ace Hardware, Burlington, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Kohl’s, Marshalls, Nordstrom, Rite Aid, Target, TJ Maxx, Walgreens, Walmart and online, including Amazon, from January 2023 to June 2026, for about $30 to $50.
• What to do: stop using it. Register for a full refund at firepitrecall.expertinquiry.com or call 855-215-5032 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, weekdays). You’ll write “RECALLED – DO NOT USE” on it in permanent marker and send three photos. Then get rid of leftover fuel the way the county’s hazardous-waste rules say.

2. Cummins Onan P5000iDF EFI Dual Fuel Portable Generator (about 2,960 sold)

• What it looks like: a dark gray generator that runs on gas or propane, with “Cummins” in white on the front and “Onan P5000iDF EFI” on the side.
• The problem: pressure can build up in the gas tank, so fuel can spray out or the gas cap can pop off. One person got fuel splashed in the face. No one needed medical care.
• Where sold: Camping World, Factory Pure, Northern Tool, AP Electric and Cummins.com, from May 2025 to August 2026.
• What to do: stop using it. Check your model and part number on the Cummins recall page, then set up a free repair at an authorized Cummins service shop. Call 800-286-6467.

What it means for you: Recalls are like the “check engine” light. Most of the time your gear isn’t on the list, and it takes two minutes to find out. If you put a little fire pit on your Christmas gift list, cross this one off. And whatever generator you own, the old rule still stands: run it outside only, far from windows and doors.

👉 Read more (CPSC: Sharper Image fire pit recall) · CPSC: Cummins generator recall

🏥 Get Paid to Learn a Health Job: Erlanger Bledsoe’s Apprenticeships

This is local news for the Valley and nearby counties, from Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital’s program page. Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital in Pikeville and the Erlanger Sequatchie Valley Emergency Department in Dunlap are starting a healthcare apprenticeship program with the Tennessee Hospital Association. The idea is simple: you earn a paycheck while you train for a job in health care.

• Who it’s for: residents of Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Marion, Van Buren, Grundy, Hamilton, Cumberland and Rhea counties. That includes first-timers, folks already working in health care who want to move up, students interested in nursing or allied health, and adults looking for career training.
• What you get: paid on-the-job training, classroom lessons, a path toward certifications or a license, and a mentor. The hospital says it can also help with things that get in the way, like transportation, child care and school costs.
• How many spots: the plan is to support 20 people, including at least 10 in a formal Registered Apprenticeship.
• Deadline: fill out the interest form by Wednesday, Nov. 18, on the program page. Questions: Erlanger’s main line, 423-778-7000.

What it means for you: This is like learning to farm by working beside a good farmer, with a paycheck every week. It’s also good news for everyone else, because more trained folks close to home means more help when we need it. If you know a grandchild, neighbor or church member who’s been wondering what’s next, send them this before Wednesday.

👉 Read more (Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital: Apprenticeship Program)

📋 Rural Health Day Is Thursday: Make a Fridge Card of Six Local Numbers

Gov. Bill Lee has proclaimed Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, as Rural Health Day in Tennessee, and it’s National Rural Health Day, too. The numbers below come from each office’s own website. Rural Health Day is a nice time to remember how much care we have close to home. Here’s an easy way to mark it: take an index card and copy down these numbers. When something goes wrong, nobody remembers a phone number. A card on the fridge remembers it for you.

• 🚑 Emergency: 911.
• 🏥 Erlanger Sequatchie Valley Emergency Department: 16931 Rankin Ave., Dunlap. Open 24 hours a day, every day. 423-949-2000.
• 🩺 Sequatchie County Health Department: 16939 Rankin Ave. N., Dunlap. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (423) 949-3619. Flu shots, child health, WIC and more.
• ☠️ Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222. Free, private and open 24/7, even for “it’s probably nothing” questions, like a child getting into the pill bottle.
• 💬 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, any time. Veterans can press 1.
• 🚐 MobileMOC free clinic (adults 18 and older, no insurance needed): 423-425-1657. Its November dates aren’t posted yet, so call to ask.

Leave room at the bottom for your own doctor and pharmacy, and add a short list of your medicines on the back.

What it means for you: A fridge card is like the spare key under the flowerpot. You hope you won’t need it, but you’ll be awfully glad it’s there. Make one for yourself and one for a neighbor who lives alone. While you’re at it, tape it next to the calendar, where everybody looks.

👉 Read more (Erlanger Sequatchie Valley Emergency Department) · Poison Control: How to get help · National Rural Health Day

📅 This Week’s Sticky Notes (all times Central unless noted)

• Today, Fri., Nov. 13: Partly sunny, near 47. Low around 31 tonight. The Jasper Highlands blood drive runs 2 to 6 p.m. at Fire Station One, Turkey Trot Lane.
• Sat., Nov. 14 (World Diabetes Day): Sunny, near 50, then about 28 Saturday night, the coldest of the run. CHI Memorial lung screening coach at Nutrition World, Chattanooga, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. our time (423-495-5864).
• Sun., Nov. 15 to Wed., Nov. 18: Sunny and warming, from 55 up to 64. Lows near 30.
• Wed., Nov. 18: Last day for the Erlanger Bledsoe apprenticeship interest form.
• Thu., Nov. 19: Rural Health Day, and the Great American Smokeout. Free help to quit: 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Mostly sunny, near 67.
• Fri., Nov. 20: Last day of the Griffith Elementary Harvest Food Drive.
• Mon., Nov. 23: First “Cooking Small, Living Well” class, 5 p.m. (423-949-2611).
• Thu., Nov. 26: Thanksgiving. Feeling sick? Ask for a plate to go.
• Mon., Nov. 30: Last day for the veterans’ free dental cleaning offer at Prima Dental Premier, Chattanooga ((423) 499-8007).
• Mon., Dec. 7: Medicare open enrollment ends.

✅ Your Healthy Valley Checklist

• ✅ Sick with flu signs and 65-plus or living with a health problem? Call your doctor on day one.
• ✅ No flu shot yet? Call the health department at (423) 949-3619 or ask your pharmacy.
• ✅ Look at any small patio fire pit for a “77” logo. If it’s a recalled Sharper Image, stop using it and call 855-215-5032.
• ✅ Check the backup generator. A dark gray Cummins Onan P5000iDF? Call 800-286-6467 for a free repair.
• ✅ Every generator runs outside only, far from windows and doors.
• ✅ Know someone who wants a health job? Send them the Erlanger Bledsoe form before Nov. 18.
• ✅ Make a fridge card: 911, 423-949-2000, (423) 949-3619, 1-800-222-1222, 988 and 423-425-1657.
• ✅ Make a second card for a neighbor who lives alone.

Practical rule: call the doctor early, check the recall list once and keep the numbers where your eyes already go.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist or health department about your own situation. In an emergency, call 911.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Health Glossary

• FluView: The CDC’s weekly flu report card for the whole country. It usually comes out on Fridays.
• Severity: How hard a flu season is hitting people, judged by things like hospital stays. “Low” means fewer serious cases than in a rough year.
• Baseline: The normal amount of flu-like illness for a quiet time of year. Above baseline means flu is active.
• Antiviral: A prescription medicine that fights a virus, like the flu. It works best when started soon after you get sick.
• Recall: When a company and a safety agency ask people to stop using a product and offer a fix, a swap or a refund.
• Dual fuel: A generator that can run on either gasoline or propane.
• Apprenticeship: A paid job where you learn skills by working beside experienced people, plus some classroom lessons.
• Allied health: Health jobs besides doctors and nurses, like lab, X-ray, pharmacy and therapy workers.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

If flu is “low” severity, do I still need to do anything?

Yes, but just the basics. The CDC says flu is still rising and the severity rating could change. Wash your hands, stay home when sick, get a flu shot if you haven’t, and call your doctor early if you get sick and you’re at higher risk.

How do I know if I’m “higher risk” for flu?

The CDC’s list includes people 65 and older, young children, pregnant people and people with long-term health problems like diabetes, heart disease or lung disease. If you’re not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

How can I tell if my fire pit is one of the recalled ones?

Look for a small tabletop fire pit with a “77” logo on the front and a lot-code sticker in the center of the base. Some have a round concrete body, and others have a steel base with glass sides. If you’re still not sure, call Allstar at 855-215-5032 or visit firepitrecall.expertinquiry.com.

My generator is a different brand. Is it safe?

This recall is only for the Cummins Onan P5000iDF EFI dual-fuel model. Other generators aren’t part of it. Any generator can be dangerous indoors, though, so always run it outside, far from windows, doors and vents.

Do I need experience to apply for the Erlanger Bledsoe apprenticeship?

No. The program page says it’s open to people exploring health care for the first time, as well as current health workers who want to move up. Fill out the interest form by Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Can I call Poison Help even if I’m not sure it’s an emergency?

Yes. Poison Control says to reach out right away for any possible poisoning, even a small one. The call at 1-800-222-1222 is free, private and open 24/7. If someone is passed out, having trouble breathing or having a seizure, call 911.

🔗 Other Resources

• CDC FluView: Week 44 flu report (posted Nov. 13)
• Sequatchie County Health Department · 16939 Rankin Ave. N., Dunlap · (423) 949-3619
• CPSC: Sharper Image Tabletop and Infinity Fire Pits recall
• CPSC: Cummins Onan portable generator recall
• CPSC: All current product recalls
• Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital: Apprenticeship Program
• Erlanger Sequatchie Valley Emergency Department · 423-949-2000
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 or online help
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• UTC MobileMOC free clinic calendar · 423-425-1657
• National Rural Health Day
• National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap
• Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)

🌻 Early Calls, Quick Checks and Numbers Close at Hand

None of this needs worry. Flu showed up early, but so far it’s rated low in severity, and a quick call to the doctor keeps a rough week from turning into a rougher one. Two minutes with the recall list covers the fire pit and the generator. A paid training program means more caring hands close to home. And a little card on the fridge keeps the right numbers handy. Enjoy the sunny, warming week ahead, and keep looking out for one another.

For more calm, useful news for the Sequatchie Valley every morning, read Dunlap.Today. To find local clinics, pharmacies and businesses, visit Dunlap.Directory.