As you plan for activities outdoors this summer, it is important to keep health and safety top of mind. If you are having a picnic at a park, swimming at a local beach or hiking the Escarpment trail, there are a number of things you can do to keep you and your family safe. The Region has some great resources, services and tips to help:
Ensure beach water is safe before swimming
Before heading to the beach, you can sign up for email updates or check our Beach Water Monitoring page to confirm if the water is safe for swimming. Our Public Health team monitors the water quality at public beaches in Halton from June to the first week of September.
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.
Protect against mosquitos and ticks:
When spending time outdoors, you should 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 careful around wildlife
Remember to be careful around wildlife and observe 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.
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!