🩺 Flu Showed Up Early, Clocks Fall Back Sunday and a Big Eye Drop Recall: Your Healthy Valley Report

Or: Get Your Flu Shot This Week, Test Your Smoke Alarm When You Change the Clock, Peek at Your Eye Drops and Know Who Helps the Helpers

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Good Tuesday morning, neighbors. Pour that first cup and let’s walk the fence line together. Nothing’s broken out here, but a few posts could use a little attention before winter, and it’s easier to tend them now than in January.

Here’s the walk. Flu season is getting an unusually early start in Tennessee, so health experts say this is the week to get your flu shot if you haven’t. Clocks fall back one hour early Sunday, Nov. 1, and fire safety experts say that’s the perfect time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Millions of store-brand eye drops have been recalled because the maker can’t promise they’re sterile, including some sold under Equate, Kroger and Walgreens labels. And November is National Family Caregivers Month, a good reminder that folks caring for a loved one at home can get free help right here in Southeast Tennessee.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Flu is early this year. If you haven’t had your flu shot, get it this week. Call the Sequatchie County Health Department at (423) 949-3619, your pharmacy or your doctor.
• Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m.: clocks go back one hour. New clock time = alarm test time. Push the test button on every smoke and CO alarm.
• Eye drops: Check store-brand artificial tears and redness drops. If the lot code matches the recall list, stop using them and ask your pharmacist.
• Caregivers: Free help is one call away: 1-866-836-6678 (Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability).
• Remember: the mobile lung CT screening bus is at Dunlap Walmart Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (appointments: 423-495-5864).

🤧 Flu Came Early to the Party This Year: Here’s Where to Get Your Shot

These numbers are statewide and national, not just Sequatchie County. Axios Nashville reported today that flu season appears to be getting an unusually early start in Tennessee and across the country. Tennessee recorded 74 flu-related hospitalizations in the week ending Oct. 17, according to state health department data, up 42% from 52 in the same week last year. Nationwide, about 5.7% of flu tests came back positive that week, compared with 0.5% at this time last year, according to the CDC.

Vanderbilt infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner told WSMV it’s time to get vaccinated: “I would say, run, do not walk.” He said Tennessee usually sees flu hospitalizations pick up around December, but this year it’s happening in October. Here’s the calming part: Axios notes the early start doesn’t necessarily mean this season will be unusually severe, and flu levels are still relatively low compared with the usual January and February peaks.

What it means for you: Think of the flu shot like putting up firewood. You can do it in a cold snap, but it’s a whole lot easier before the first frost. The shot takes about two weeks to build up full protection, so getting it now means you’re ready before Thanksgiving visits. The free Fight Flu day was Oct. 20, but flu shots are still available. Your options here at home: the Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave. N., Dunlap (behind the Erlanger Sequatchie Valley emergency center), (423) 949-3619; your local pharmacy; or your regular doctor. Call ahead to ask about hours and cost, and bring your insurance or Medicare card. Everyone 6 months and older is eligible.

👉 Read more (Axios Nashville: Flu season off to early start in Tennessee) · CDC FluView, week ending Oct. 17 · TDH: Fight Flu

⏰ Fall Back, Then Push the Button: Your Sunday Alarm Check

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks go back one hour to 1 a.m. That means an extra hour of sleep and earlier sunsets through the winter. Tennessee, like the rest of the country, will still fall back this year.

Fire safety folks say the clock change is the perfect time to check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. The National Fire Protection Association says alarms with regular batteries need a new battery at least once a year, and if an alarm with a sealed 10-year battery starts chirping, replace the whole alarm. Fire chiefs in DeKalb County, Tenn., told WJLE this week to test alarms, change batteries, replace alarms every 10 years and have them in bedrooms, hallways and on every floor.

Need an alarm? Through the State Fire Marshal’s free “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!” program, participating local fire departments install 10-year smoke alarms, CO detectors and bed-shaker alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The state says the program’s alarms have helped save 524 people so far. Call your local fire department and ask if it takes part, or request one at tn.gov/fire.

What it means for you: This is the season we light the heater, the fireplace and the gas logs again, and CO has no smell or color, so a detector is the only way to know. Make it a little Sunday routine, like winding the old mantel clock: change the clock, push the button, listen for the beep. If you can’t reach the ceiling, don’t climb a wobbly chair. Ask a grandkid, a neighbor or your fire department. The DeKalb County chiefs also suggest a puff of compressed air to keep dust off the sensor.

👉 Read more (TN State Fire Marshal: Free smoke and CO alarms) · NFPA: Changing clocks and batteries · Knox News: When clocks fall back

👁️ Take a Peek in the Medicine Cabinet: Store-Brand Eye Drops Recalled

This is a nationwide recall, not a local problem. K.C. Pharmaceuticals has recalled about 4.8 million cartons of over-the-counter eye drops because it can’t assure the products are sterile. The company began the recall Sept. 11, and the FDA listed it as a Class II recall in October, meaning a temporary or reversible health risk. K.C. makes drops for many store brands, so its name often isn’t on the label.

The recall covers eight kinds of drops, including artificial tears, dry-eye lubricant drops and redness-relief drops. Brands on the list include Equate (Walmart), Kroger, Walgreens, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Leader, TopCare, up & up (Target), Good Sense, Foster & Thrive, GeriCare and Clear Eyes Redness Relief, among others. Only certain lot codes are recalled, so look at the small lot number on the bottle or box and compare it with the recall list linked below.

Also in the freezer this week (for cat owners): On Oct. 26, the FDA warned people not to feed two lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats (lots 12731 and 12493) after samples tested positive for Salmonella. It’s sold frozen, online by subscription. If you have it, throw it away in a sealed container, clean bowls and surfaces, and wash your hands well.

What it means for you: Eye drops are like the well water: they’re supposed to be clean, and when there’s a question, you don’t take chances. Most bottles in most cabinets are fine. Just take one minute to check. If yours matches, stop using it and ask your pharmacist about a replacement or refund. If your eyes have pain, redness, discharge, swelling, light sensitivity or vision changes, see an eye doctor or your health care provider, and hang on to the bottle.

👉 Read more (full list of brands and lot codes) · Recall D-0002-2027 details · FDA: Darwin’s cat food advisory

🤝 Who Helps the Helpers? November Is National Family Caregivers Month

Starting Sunday, November is National Family Caregivers Month. Caregiver Action Network, which leads the observance, says more than 63 million family caregivers across the country support a family member or friend with health needs. This year’s theme is “Care Connects Us.”

Right here in our corner of the state, the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability runs a Family Caregiver Support Program. It offers information and help finding services, counseling, respite care (a short break for the caregiver) and limited personal care and homemaker help. It’s for people caring for an adult 60 or older, or for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related condition at any age. Call toll-free 1-866-836-6678. The agency also runs a Relative Caregiver Program for grandparents and other relatives raising children, serving Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Marion, Rhea and other nearby counties: 1-866-735-8752.

What it means for you: If you’re the one driving Mama to appointments, sorting Daddy’s pills or raising the grandbabies, you’re carrying a heavy bucket, and there’s no prize for carrying it alone. Asking for help is like borrowing a neighbor’s wheelbarrow: it doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you’re smart. And if you know a caregiver, a casserole, a ride or an hour of sitting time is a gift they’ll remember. Caregiver Action Network also has a free help desk at (855) 227-3640.

👉 Read more (Southeast Tennessee AAAD: Caregiver support) · Caregiver Action Network: National Family Caregivers Month

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

• This week: Get your flu shot if you haven’t yet. Sequatchie County Health Department: (423) 949-3619.
• Fri., Oct. 30: The CHI Memorial mobile lung CT bus will be at Walmart, 16773 Rankin Ave., Dunlap, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call ahead: 423-495-5864. The CDC’s weekly flu report is also due.
• Sat., Oct. 31: Halloween. Carry a flashlight, wear something bright and check the forecast before you head out.
• Sun., Nov. 1, 2 a.m.: Clocks fall back an hour. Test smoke and CO alarms. HealthCare.gov open enrollment opens, and National Family Caregivers Month and National Diabetes Month begin.
• Early November: UTC’s free MobileMOC clinic hasn’t posted its November calendar yet. Call 423-425-1657 to ask about stops in our counties.
• Fri., Nov. 13: The Dunlap blood drive honoring Bella Cooper runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Citizens Tri-County Bank, 15699 Rankin Ave.
• Mon., Dec. 7: Medicare open enrollment ends. Free, unbiased help: TN SHIP, 1-877-801-0044.

✅ Your Healthy Valley Checklist

• ☐ Call for a flu shot this week if you haven’t had one: health department, pharmacy or doctor.
• ☐ Write “Sunday: clocks back, push the button” on a note and stick it by the coffee pot.
• ☐ Test every smoke alarm and CO detector when you change your clocks.
• ☐ No alarm, or a really old one? Call your local fire department about a free one.
• ☐ Check your store-brand eye drops for a recalled lot code. Ask your pharmacist if you’re not sure.
• ☐ Cat owners: check the freezer for Darwin’s chicken recipe lots 12731 and 12493.
• ☐ Caring for a loved one? Save 1-866-836-6678 in your phone.
• ☐ If you qualify, call 423-495-5864 about Friday’s lung CT bus in Dunlap.

Practical rule: when the clock changes, check the alarm; when the flu comes early, get the shot early; and when you’re carrying a heavy load, call for a hand.

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

• Flu-related hospitalization: When someone is sick enough with the flu to be admitted to a hospital.
• Test positivity: Out of all flu tests done, the share that come back positive. A rising number means more flu is going around.
• Carbon monoxide (CO): An invisible gas with no smell that can come from heaters, stoves, fireplaces or generators that don’t burn fuel completely.
• 10-year sealed battery alarm: A smoke alarm with a built-in battery made to last the life of the alarm. When it chirps, replace the whole alarm.
• Lot code: A short code printed on a package that tells which batch it came from. Recalls often cover only certain lots.
• Sterile: Free of germs. Eye drops must be sterile because eyes can get infected easily.
• Class II recall: An FDA rating that means a product may cause a temporary or medically reversible health problem.
• Respite care: Short-term care for a loved one so the regular caregiver can rest, run errands or recharge.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Does an early flu season mean it’ll be a bad one?

Not necessarily. Axios Nashville reports that the early uptick doesn’t necessarily mean this season will be unusually severe, and flu levels are still relatively low compared with the usual peaks in January and February. It does mean now is a good time to get your shot.

I missed the free flu shot day on Oct. 20. Can I still get one?

Yes. Flu shots are still available at health departments, pharmacies and doctors’ offices. Call the Sequatchie County Health Department at (423) 949-3619 or your pharmacy to ask about hours and cost. Insurance, Medicare and TennCare usually cover it.

What time do I change my clocks?

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Most folks just set clocks back one hour before bed Saturday night. Phones and many newer clocks change themselves.

Where do I put a carbon monoxide detector?

Follow the directions that come with your detector. A good rule is to have one near sleeping areas and on each level of the home, especially if you use gas, propane, wood or kerosene for heat or cooking. Your local fire department can help.

How do I know if my eye drops are part of the recall?

Find the lot code on the bottle or box and compare it with the recall list. Recalled lots start with letters like AT, AC, AR, CM, LT, RG, RL or SU, but you need the exact code to be sure. If you’re not sure, take the bottle to your pharmacist.

My eyes feel fine. Do I still need to stop using recalled drops?

Yes. If your bottle matches a recalled lot, stop using it, even if your eyes feel fine. If you notice pain, redness, discharge, swelling, light sensitivity or vision changes, see an eye doctor or your health care provider.

Who can get help from the Family Caregiver Support Program?

The Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability says it serves people caring for an adult 60 or older, or for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder at any age. Call 1-866-836-6678 to learn what’s available.

🔗 Other Resources

• Tennessee Department of Health: Fight Flu
• CDC FluView weekly flu report
• Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office: fire safety and free alarm requests
• NFPA: Smoke alarm batteries
• K.C. Pharmaceuticals eye drop recall: brands and lot codes
• FDA recalls and safety alerts
• Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability: 1-866-836-6678
• Caregiver Action Network: Help Desk (855) 227-3640
• CHI Memorial mobile lung screening
• UTC MobileMOC free clinic calendar
• TN SHIP free Medicare counseling: 1-877-801-0044
• Southeast Tennessee county health departments: Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave. N., Dunlap, (423) 949-3619

🌻 A Little Tending Now Means an Easy Winter

None of this is cause for worry. It’s just fall chores for your health: one shot, one button, one peek in the cabinet and one phone number for the folks who take care of everybody else. Pick one today and check it off. Then tell a neighbor at the post office, because that’s how a valley looks out for itself.

Read Dunlap.Today for more calm, clear news from the Sequatchie Valley, and find local health providers, pharmacies and services on Dunlap.Directory.