Emergency Preparedness & Persons with Special Needs

Picture of woman in wheelchair with service dog

  In the event of an emergency, everyone should be prepared to take care of themselves and their family for at least 72 hours.  Having an emergency kit and an emergency plan are the best ways to prepare yourself for an emergency.  If you or a family member have a disability or special need, you also need to consider what … Read More

How to Safely Dispose of Needles

Watch the video below for a step-by-step guide on how to properly dispose of needles found on public or private property.   For more information please contact the CK Public Health  at 519.355.1071 ext. 5901 or email ckpublichealth@chatham-kent.ca    

Summer Weather… Gone Bad

Picture of lightning

The arrival of hot summer weather brings the risk of severe storms to our area.  Thunderstorms and lightning may quickly develop into damaging weather such as hail, heavy rain, high winds and tornadoes.  This may lead to power outages and flooding.  Do you and your family have everything you need to cope with these potential emergencies?  Take a few simple … Read More

How can I reduce the pain of vaccinations for my baby or child?

Picture of family meeting with doctor

Vaccinations are important in order to prevent disease and illness in your child, however they can at times cause anxiety for both you and your little one. Below are some tips to reduce pain from shots and make the experience better for the both of you. Have your baby/child sit on your lap for a cuddle during the immunization If … Read More

Taking a Trip? Don’t Forget Your Travel Shots!

Picture of a tropical beach

While travelling, you may be at risk for a number of exotic illnesses that can be prevented by vaccination. As you age, your vaccine-acquired protection against many illnesses may decrease, and your risk of getting certain diseases may increase. Some countries may also require you to provide proof of certain vaccinations to cross their borders. Make sure you’ve read up … Read More

Your Vaccine Is Protected

Picture of mother with son

Did you know that the Chatham-Kent Public Health plays an important role in making sure that the vaccines you receive are safe and effective? Public Health Nurses in Chatham-Kent inspect every location that stores publicly funded vaccine. This is called a Cold Chain Inspection. Inspections occur at all doctors’ offices, long term care facilities, retirement homes, pharmacies and hospitals at … Read More

After Immunization…in case you didn’t know

Image of little girl receiving needle

Side effects of immunization are mostly mild, such as a sore arm or mild fever for a day. But there is no way to absolutely predict how a person may react to a shot. If a more serious reaction or adverse event is suspected, you should report it to your healthcare provider or Public Health Unit — wherever the vaccine was given.  … Read More

Do you have a child enrolled in a childcare centre?

Image of two boys playing with blocks

  Chatham-Kent Public Health is required by law in Ontario to maintain immunization records for every child attending a licensed childcare centre. The health unit assesses immunization records to ensure they are accurate and up to date. This is done to protect your child in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease. Many parents think their healthcare … Read More

Do you have what it takes?

Picture of emergency checklist

  Snow storms, spring flooding, tornadoes, power outages. Do you have what it takes to get through an emergency? Every household should have the following items in a basic emergency kit… Water – 2L per person per day Food – that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars, dried foods Manual can opener Wind-up or battery-powered flashlight (and extra … Read More

Winter is Fast Approaching: Are You Prepared?

Picture of snow covered road

Winter can mean bitter cold and storms that bring high winds, icy rain or heavy snowfall.  Are you prepared for whatever the season will bring?  Do you have an emergency plan for you and your family? It only takes about 20 minutes to make a family emergency plan online. Before starting, think about: Identifying meeting places to reunite with family … Read More

Prevent Antibiotic Resistance At Home

Do you know that certain antibiotics no longer work on certain bacteria? This is because we often use antibiotics incorrectly and too often. We need to prevent this problem from getting worse. What can we do? As a patient, ask if tests will be done to make sure the right antibiotic is prescribed. Take antibiotics exactly as the doctor tells … Read More

How to Safely Dispose of Needles

Picture of disposing of needles

Finding needles in community areas such as parks is a health and safety concern for everyone. Used syringes should be disposed of properly in order to protect others from injury and infections like Hepatitis C and HIV. It’s important to remember that the risk of becoming infected with one of these infections through a needle-stick injury is very low. Prevention … Read More