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Chair's Corner

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Five tips for a safe and healthy summer in Halton

Jul 02, 2019

As you relax and explore Halton this summer, I’d like to encourage you to take advantage of some of the great resources and services Halton Region offers to prevent illness and protect your health. Here are five tips to help you and your family have a safe and healthy summer.

Stay informed about extreme heat and air quality

Preventing heat illness is an important part of protecting your health this summer, especially as we’ve continued to see warmer summers in Halton. During extreme heat and air quality events, the Region issues alerts. Visit halton.ca tosign up for heat and air quality alerts, find tips for preventing heat illness and information about local air conditioned public facilities, swimming pools and splash pads.

Get beach water quality results before you swim

Halton is home to several beautiful public beaches—a great option for cooling down during the hot summer months. The Region’s public health inspectors monitor Halton’s beaches to ensure safe water quality for swimmers, so before you swim check the latest beach water quality results on our website. You can also sign up to receive weekly email updates on the water quality at Halton’s beaches, so you conveniently plan your next trip to the beach!

Protect yourself from tick bites and prevent Lyme disease

Like many municipalities in Ontario, Halton is seeing an increase in ticks in some areas. To protect yourself from tick bites when exploring the outdoors, remember to:

  • stay on trails and avoid known tick areas (such as wooded, brushy or tall grass areas) if possible;
  • wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing and closed-toe shoes;
  • use an approved bug spray containing DEET or Icaridin; and
  • perform a tick scan on yourself, family members and pets after outdoor activity.

You can submit any ticks found on yourself or a family member to the Halton Region Health Department for testing and identification. For more information, visit our Lyme disease web page.

Stay safe from mosquitoes

As the temperatures increase, so too does the mosquito population. Unfortunately, mosquitoes can spread West Nile virus (WNV) so it’s important to protect yourself when outdoors. Mosquitoes are most active during the early morning and evening hours, especially in wooded areas. To avoid mosquito bites, wear long-sleeved clothing and use an approved bug spray.

You can also reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by removing any standing water. If you see standing water on public property for longer than a week, report it to Halton Region by emailingaccesshalton@halton.ca or call 311. To learn how Halton is working to reduce the impact of WNV or learn about our surveillance activities, please visit our West Nile virus web page.

Prepare food properly to avoid foodborne illness

Summer BBQs, parties and picnics are all great occasions to enjoy food with family and friends. When preparing food, follow these four steps to avoid foodborne illness: cook, clean, separate and chill.

By making safe choices and practising safe behaviours, we are continuing to make our community a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. Have a safe and wonderful summer!

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