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Chair's Corner

Breadcrumbs

Enjoy a healthy and happy holiday season

Dec 12, 2019

The holidays are a special time with friends and family. Whether you’re at home, work, on the road or visiting family and friends, there are many things you can do to stay safe and healthy over the holidays.

Stay alert and drive safe


Our roads can be busier during the holiday season, as more people travel through the region to visit family and friends, shop at local businesses and malls, or attend holiday events. Before you plan on driving, remember these important road safety tips:

  • Arrange for a designated driver, use public transit or a ride-sharing service to get home safely. If you see an impaired driver on the roads, call 911 immediately.
  • Consider using winter tires on your vehicle and store an emergency kit in your car before severe winter weather hits.
  • Do not drive while distracted – keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road at all times. For tips on how to avoid distracted driving, visit our Distracted Driving webpage.
Practise food safety


One of my favourite parts of the holidays is enjoying delicious meals with family and friends. If you’re preparing your family’s holiday feast, follow these four steps to avoid foodborne illness: clean, cook, separate and chill.

The Halton Region Health Department also helps keep residents safe and healthy by inspecting all food premises in Halton to ensure they are properly preparing and serving food. Results of inspections are available on halton.ca and posted on-site at each restaurant in Halton.

Be prepared for cold weather


Canadian winters can be unpredictable. Halton Region sends out cold warning emails to alert residents when temperatures are expected to be extremely cold. Visit our Cold Warnings webpage to sign up for these alerts and find tips on how to prevent cold-related injuries.

Protect yourself from the flu and other illnesses


Flu and other illnesses are more commonly spread during the fall and winter. Protect yourself by getting the annual flu shot from your family doctor, local pharmacy or walk-in clinic. You can also prevent the spread of germs by washing your hands often, using alcohol-based hand sanitizer and coughing or sneezing into your arm.

On behalf of Halton Region, I hope you and your family have a safe and healthy holiday season. By taking these steps to protect yourself and others in our community, we can ensure that Halton remains a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. For more information on Regional programs and services that help protect your health, visit halton.ca.

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