National Addictions Awareness Week 2023

National Addictions Awareness Week 2023 Graphic Banner

It is National Addictions Awareness Week and this year the theme is Inspiration, Innovation, and Inclusion. Our goal for this week, along with every other week, is to raise awareness about substance use in our community. Substance use affects all walks of life with far reaching impacts for individuals, families and communities. Shifting Our Views on Substance Use For thousands … Read More

Help us bring the beauty of the outdoors, in!

Help us bring the beauty of the outdoors, in! CK Public Health is calling all local photographers, from amateur to professional, who would like to share their photo(s) of Chatham-Kent nature/landscapes and assist us in incorporating local images into our workspaces. We are looking for images that are free of human-made structures and objects (i.e. buildings, vehicles).  Images selected will … Read More

Chatham-Kent Community Profiles

The Chatham-Kent 2021 Census Profiles bring together a wealth of information about the socio-demographics of the population and the communities served by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, including data on age; marital status; language, immigration, and racialized groups; families and households; education; employment and labour; and income. The information has been presented in a series of seven infographics: Municipality of Chatham-Kent … Read More

Power Failures and Your Home

Lightning strike over trees

During and after a prolonged power failure, the foods you keep in the refrigerator and freezer may become unsafe to eat. Bacteria can build up in perishable foods, which may cause foodborne illness. FOOD IN YOUR FREEZER: Chest or upright freezers will normally keep their contents in a frozen state for about 48 hours if the freezer is full, left … Read More

CK Public Health Giving CK Residents Something to Smile About

Today, on June 13, 2023, CK Public Health hosted the official ribbon cutting for their new Dental Clinic which opened its doors earlier this month. Uniquely, this clinic will serve Chatham-Kent residents that qualify for either the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program or the Healthy Smiles Ontario program. Located at 519 King Street West, with the entrance being on Robertson … Read More

Clearing the Air on Wildfire Smoke

With Environment Canada issuing a Special Air Quality Statement for our region due to smoke from wildfires across the country, CK Public Health reminds residents that wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health, even at low concentrations. Additionally, people with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are … Read More

Special Air Quality Statements

Environment Canada issues a Special Air Quality Statement whenever there is the possibility of poor air quality. Some weather causes an increase in something called “ground-level ozone concentrations.” These make moderate risk air quality levels possible. During this time, individuals may experience symptoms such as: increased coughing throat irritation headaches shortness of breath Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or … Read More

Changes to Seniors Vision Coverage

Ontario Government and Ontario Association of Optometrists Reach Historic Agreement Changes for Seniors (aged 65 years or older) Effective September 1, 2023 Annual Eye Exams Current: One exam every 12 months for all seniors aged 65 years or older. Change: Seniors with eligible medical conditions affecting their eyes such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetes will continue to receive one exam every … Read More

Food Insecurity in Chatham-Kent

1 in 5 households in Chatham-Kent do not have enough money to buy nutritious foods. That is nearly 20% of our community. CK Public Health’s new report “Food Insecurity in CK”, shows that in 2022 the average cost to feed a family of four was $242.58 per week or $1050.36 per month. After paying for rent, a family of 4 … Read More

Creating a “Community of Caring” in CK

It’s National Addictions Awareness Week! Our aim this week (and all year long, but ESPECIALLY this week) is to raise awareness about and reduce the stigma that surrounds substance use and addiction. Each year, National Addictions Awareness Week has a theme. This year, that theme is a “Community of Caring” – where we focus on the idea that working together … Read More

Sorry We Missed You…

Public Health Saves Lives Public Health Saves Lives in many ways. Preventing diseases, promoting healthy behaviours, and protecting the health and safety of the environments we live, work and play in!  This includes making sure that rules, regulations, and standards that exist to keep our community and its residents healthy and safe are being followed. Occasionally, this could mean having … Read More

Respiratory Viruses and Protection in Layers

‘Tis the season… for respiratory viruses! There is a surge of respiratory infections in Chatham-Kent right now, and we’re not just talking about the regular increase in colds and flus for this time of year. What’s happening locally? There are increased numbers of respiratory illness-related emergency department visits, and we have an early start to the flu season with a … Read More