Take one step

6/29/2009

It is time for summer vacation and this will be the last "Health, Wellness and Safety Tip" until the new school year, but keep in mind that SAFETY should never take a vacation.

Here are some safety tips for your summer activities:

Cutting the lawn? Make sure to substitute those flip flops for a pair of closed toe shoes or better yet safety shoes. How loud is your lawnmower? – perhaps you should also be wearing hearing protection.

Building a new deck / shed / fence? Protect your eyes, are you wearing your safety glasses? Are the tools you are using appropriate for the work to more...

Category: Accident Prevention; Disease Prevention; Nutrition; Physical Health

6/22/2009

Happy Father's Day – Pregnancy Planning

Happy Father’s Day…Are you hoping to hear these words soon?

Building a healthy baby is like building a home…you need a sturdy foundation. There are lifestyle choices that can affect your fertility and the health of your future baby. The best time to prepare for your baby’s health is before your partner gets pregnant. Here are the building blocks to a healthy baby:

Find out about your family’s medical history.
See your doctor for a physical. Check to make sure your prescription drugs will not affect your fertility or the health of your baby.
Make sure your immunizations are up to date.

more...

Category: Emotional Health; Disease Prevention; Physical Health

6/15/2009

West Nile Virus

Summer is almost here, and the West Nile virus along with it. It is important to know how to protect yourself against West Nile, which is mainly transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms or they have flu-like symptoms. Sometimes though, the virus can cause severe illness, resulting in hospitalization and even death. As such, it is important to know the symptoms related to infection and how to minimize your risk, especially if virus activity is reported near you.

Those with weaker immune systems and with chronic more...

Category: Disease Prevention

6/8/2009

Emergency Preparedness

Is your Family Prepared?

If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.

In an emergency, you may need to survive without power or tap water. As a result, you will need some basic supplies. You may have some of the items already, such as food, water and a flashlight. The key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark? Make sure your kit is easy to carry and everyone in the household knows more...

Category: Physical Health; General Safety Reminders

6/1/2009

Hot Weather Safety Guidelines

Exposure to elevated heat during the summer months can cause a variety of illnesses from sunburn to heat cramps and heat stroke. There have been cases in the media of healthy people suffering severe illness and even death when the signs of heat illness were not recognized in time. Despite this, there is no maximum temperature above which the Ministry of Labour does not allow work to be done. Rather, we refer to guidelines provided by Public Health. The following guidelines advise on how to manage exposure to heat in schools and also how to recognize the signs that someone may be suffering a heat-related more...

Category: Accident Prevention; General Safety Reminders

5/25/2009

Outdoor Activity Injury Prevention

With the arrival of Spring and the warm weather, comes outdoor activities like baseball, basketball and track and field. Perhaps you haven't picked up a bat since last summer, so here are a few tips to prevent outdoor injuries.

Know your skill level and fitness limits. If you have spent the winter curled up on the couch, ease yourself slowly back into your fitness routine to build up your endurance and flexibility.
Stretching and warming up your muscles prior to the activity for a good 10 to 15 minutes prevents stiffness and potential injury. Try to target major muscle groups and more...

Category: Accident Prevention; General Safety Reminders; Physical Health

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