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    Fly In, Flu Out at the Sundance Film Festival with Intermountain Healthcare’s

    Fly In, Flu Out at the Sundance Film Festival with Intermountain Healthcare’s

    Sundance Park City

    Starting this week, more than 50,000 air travelers will fly into Salt Lake City International Airport to make their way to Park City for the Sundance Film Festival. Once in Park City, they’ll be riding public transportation, sharing theatre seats, shaking hands, exchanging business cards and unknowingly spreading germs - enjoying films in a giant petri dish while flu activity has reached epidemic levels this year.

    In an effort to combat the flu and help festivalgoers stay healthy, Intermountain Healthcare has opened a Flu Shot Clinic inside the airport’s Terminal 2, between concourses C and D. Intermountain operates Park City Medical Center, the local hospital that will likely treat those who fall ill during the festival.

    “We want people to enjoy the Sundance Film Festival, and not get sick because of it,” notes Park City Medical Center CEO Rob Allen. “The convenience of being able to get a flu shot right at the airport really is a benefit to travelers coming to Park City for the Festival.”

    The clinic is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and flu shots are just $25.

    Even with various strains of the flu going around, health experts strongly encourage people to get the flu shot. It helps prevent the flu and minimizes symptoms and length of illness if one does contract it.

    Another way festival goers can protect themselves is by downloading Intermountain’s free mobile app, “Intermountain Health Hub.” One of the tools within Health Hub, GermWatch, provides users with real-time information about infectious diseases that are active in Utah communities. Festival attendees can find out how prevalent various germs are in Park City and see how germ activity level is trending. GermWatch is especially valuable during flu season and provides information about outbreaks of common respiratory viruses. Health Hub is available for free download from the iTunes App Store and Google Play.

    “Having information about what germs are going around helps providers stay alert for the illnesses caused by these germs,” said Dr. Kris Kemp, director of Park City Medical Center’s Emergency Department. “This awareness can improve diagnostic accuracy, which in turn makes it easier for them to provide the right treatment for patients. But it also helps people avoid getting sick in the first place.”

    Other ways you can avoid getting the flu include:

    • Getting a flu shot (it’s not too late).
    • Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
    • Get plenty of sleep, exercise, drink lots of water and eat healthy foods.