Easy Healthy Back-to-School Lunches

Picture of a packed lunch with water

As families are preparing to get back into the school routine, they are often searching for ideas on what to pack into the lunch box. With a little bit of planning, lunches can be appealing and healthy for your children. Essential things to consider are: Plan ahead of time; Involve kids in the planning and preparing Include a variety of … Read More

Preventing Pregnancy after Sex

Picture of scared woman

Missed pills? Broken condom? No protection? When accidents happen you’ve got a back-up plan! It’s called emergency contraception, also known as the “morning after pill” or Plan B. You risk an accidental pregnancy when condoms break, when birth control is taken incorrectly, or if you were unprepared for sex. Unprotected sex, even if it’s just once, can lead to an … Read More

Are you Informed or Unaware? Safe or At risk?

Hepatitis Poster

For the world’s eighth biggest killer, viral hepatitis is remarkably neglected. Viral hepatitis kills 1.5 million people each year, that’s as many as HIV/AIDS. Viral hepatitis is also the leading cause of liver cancer, which is the second biggest cancer killer. Despite these statistics hepatitis largely remains ignored and does not receive the same level of awareness or political priority … Read More

Summer Fun for Families

Picture of couple playing with son

Summer is finally here!  It does not need to cost you a lot of money to have fun with your family this summer. Visit Chatham-Kent Inter Urban Transit for transit fares and times. Free movies in the park are presented in various parks throughout Chatham-Kent during the summer, as well as many opportunities for families to swim together for free!  Check out all … Read More

World No Tobacco Day

This Sunday May 31st, is designated “World No Tobacco Day” by the World Health Organization.  “World No Tobacco Day” is a day to discuss the dangers of tobacco use and the business practices of the companies that produce products that kill half of all users when their products are used as directed. This year alone, tobacco use is estimated to kill … Read More

Rabies – May is Rabies Awareness Month

Picture of animals lined up

What is Rabies?        Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that affects the brain and spinal cord of warm-blooded mammals, including humans. How Can I get it?       People may be exposed to rabies through contact with the saliva of an infected animal (usually a bite or scratch). What will I see if an animal has Rabies?     Abnormal … Read More

Melanoma Monday

Picture of dermatologist examining a mole

Melanoma Monday is observed on the first Monday in May and is internationally recognized as a day of skin cancer awareness. Approximately 6,500 Canadians were diagnosed with melanoma in 2014 and 950 died from it. When found at an early stage, melanoma has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers at more than 90%. Unfortunately, melanoma is one … Read More

Emergency Preparedness on a Budget – Get Started Today!

Picture of Emergency Checklist

Preparing for emergencies at the personal and family level can help to reduce negative impacts on you and your family in the event of an emergency.  Sometimes it can be hard to spend money preparing for emergencies that have not happened, when there are so many other things we could be spending it on. There are many things you can … Read More

Installation Tips for Car Seats

Picture of infant in a car seat

Picks and Pointers for Installing Car Seats Correctly Read, read, read the car seat installation manual and the child restraint section in your vehicle owner’s manual. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for installation. If you have misplaced your manual, contact the manufacturer for a replacement manual or go online to download. Expiry dates range from 5 to 12 years depending … Read More

Wash your leafy greens!

Picture of salad greens

As a result of an ongoing food borne illness investigation implicating certain leafy greens as a possible source of E. coli 0157,  Canadians are reminded to be vigilant about the following when handling/preparing food. thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after handling foods keep knives, counter tops, and cutting boards clean wash ready –to-eat fruits … Read More

How to get your Well Water Tested

Picture of tap water

Do you have a well, have you checked your well water lately? Pick up a water bottle, free of charge, from the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit or one of your local municipal service centres. Keep the bottle closed until the moment you fill it. Take the sample on the day you are planning to return it to the Health Unit. … Read More

What is My CancerIQ?

Picture of woman with question marks

Designed by Cancer Care Ontario (CCO), My CancerIQ is a website that helps you understand your risk for cancer and what you can do to help lower that risk. A series of risk assessments estimate your risk of cancer compared with other Ontarians of the same sex age 40 and over. At the end of each assessment you’ll receive a … Read More