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Chair's Corner

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Regional Chair Gary Carr: Have a safe and healthy summer in Halton

Jul 14, 2022
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There is so much to explore and enjoy in Halton over the summer months, whether it’s spending time at the beach or going for hike along the Escarpment trails. As you plan for activities outdoors with your friends and family, it’s important to keep health and safety top of mind. The Region has some great resources, services and tips to help:

Get heat and air quality alerts

Stay informed about heat and air quality alerts to help protect yourself and your family from the health impacts associated with heat and poor air quality. Halton Region issues environmental alerts during extreme heat and air quality events, which you can easily sign up for at Halton’s Heat Warnings webpage. To keep cool, wear loose fitting, light-coloured clothing, take frequent breaks and plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day. Remember to stay hydrated and bring plenty of water with you for outdoor activities. 

Ensure beach water is safe before swimming

Water quality at public beaches is monitored weekly by Halton Region Public Health. You can sign up for email updates or check our Beach Water Monitoring page to confirm if the water is safe for swimming.

Protect against mosquitos and ticks:

When spending time outdoors, you can help protect yourself from ticks and mosquitos to prevent Lyme disease or West Nile virus. Here are some helpful tips:

  • stay on trails;
  • wear long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing and closed-toe shoes;
  • use an insect repellent that contains DEET or Icaridin approved by Health Canada;
  • remove standing water or potential breeding areas for mosquitos around your home; and
  • check your body, clothing and pets for ticks after spending time outside.

For more information, visit our Lyme Disease page and West Nile virus page.

Be cautious around wildlife

Remember to observe wildlife from a distance. Never touch, feed or move wildlife, including young, sick or injured animals. To protect your pets against rabies, ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date and keep them indoors at night. To learn more or find the contact information for local Animal Control Services, visit the Protecting Your Family and Pets Against Rabies page on halton.ca.

Access support for parents

If you are a parent in Halton, the HaltonParents team offers some great resources to help keep little ones safe and healthy during the summer months. You can connect with them on social media at @HaltonParents, email haltonparents@halton.ca or call 311.

By practicing habits that help keep everyone safe in our community, we ensure Halton remains a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. Enjoy a safe and healthy summer!

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