Medical Officer Of Health-Ottawa Public Library-Heat Exhaustion-City Of Ottawa-Heat Advisory

Heat Warning in effect for July 23

The Medical Officer of Health is issuing a Heat Warning for July 23, 2012. Humidex is forecast to exceed 40 today. It is important to know that extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even death.Infants, young children and the homeless are also at greater risk from extreme heat, along with people taking medications such as for Parkinsons and antidepressants. OPH is encouraging people to check on family, friends and neighbours who may be isolated or vulnerable to the heat and need help accessing places to cool down.Water users of the Carp communal well system are reminded that the City has issued a water advisory. The City is distributing bottled water at the Carp Fairgrounds to those affected by this advisory.To avoid heat-related illnesses, residents and visitors should:

• Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water and avoid caffeine and alcohol
• Avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors
• Avoid direct exposure to the sun and seek shade and shelter at the first signs of heat exposure
• Wear lightweight and loose clothing
• Spend at least two hours a day in an air-conditioned location, including shopping malls, local libraries or neighbourhood community centres
• Never leave children, the elderly or pets unattended in a car, even with the windows partly rolled down

Residents can cool down at City of Ottawa pools, splash pads, wading pools, beaches and community centres, as well as Ottawa Public Library branches. In addition, Rainbow Cinemas in the St. Laurent Centre has partnered with the City of Ottawa to provide reduced ticket rates to help people access air conditioning and to cool down during heat warnings.High air pollution and UV index levels often occur during hot weather conditions.

• People with breathing and heart problems and parents and caregivers of children should pay attention to the hourly Air Quality Health Index available at airhealth.ca or at 1-866-688-3810.
• Check the forecasted UV index daily at theweathernetwork.com, local newspaper, television or radio. Choose a sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.

As part of the City of Ottawa Heat Action Plan, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) closely monitors the weather forecast for heat, smog and UV index levels and notifies residents, service providers and media when heat thresholds are met. We offer protective and proactive advice on how to deal with these summer conditions.The smog and heat thresholds are:

• Heat Advisory (humidex of 36 or more for a least two consecutive days)
• Heat Warning (humidex of 40 or more for at least two consecutive days)
• Heat Emergency (humidex of 45 or more for at least two consecutive days or situational factors)
• Smog Advisory (based on air quality index (AQI) of > 50)
• UV Index Warning ( UV index of 10 or higher)

For additional information on ways to beat the heat, visit ottawa.ca/health or call Ottawa Public Health Information at 613-580-6744. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@ottawahealth). read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Medical Officer Of Health-Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory in Effect for July 22-23

The Medical Officer of Health is issuing a Heat Advisory for July 22-23, 2012 as it is forecast that the Humidex will be greater than 36. For tips on staying cool in Ottawa, Beat the Heat This Summer. read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Medical Officer Of Health-Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory in Effect

The Medical Officer of Health is issuing a Heat Advisory until further notice as it is forecast that the Humidex will be greater than 36 for the next several days. This Heat Advisory goes out to our community partners who distribute information on hot weather precautions. See some tips on staying cool in the heat. read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Sports And Recreational Activities-Helmet Promotion-Proper Helmet-Campaign

Love your helmet? Wear it, share it or care for it, and win prizes

Ottawa Public Health is launching the Adopt a Helmet contest, part of a new helmet promotion campaign. The contest is open to youth and young adults aged 13 to 24 years old. Participants have the chance to win one of the following prizes:

• One of two BMX bikes (or equivalent) with a brand new helmet
• One of five skateboard packages
• One of two in-line skate packages
• One of four City of Ottawa recreation packages

There are three easy ways to enter the contest:

• Wear it: Have your photo taken with the contest-themed helmet at locations specified on the campaign’s blog (adoptahelmet.com).
• Share it: Share the “Adopt a Helmet” mockumentary via Twitter. Be sure to mention @ottawahealth in your tweet.
• Care for it: Share your helmet adoption story through text, photos, and/or video and send it to adoptahelmet@ottawa.ca.

The contest builds on the Adopt a Helmet social media campaign, which has featured:

• An accessibility campaign with 24 local retailers to provide discounts on helmets on Helmet Day
• A video mockumentary (youtube.com/adoptahelmet)
• A helmet adoption blog (adoptahelmet.com)

Sports and recreational activities represent the second leading cause of head injuries among children and youth. Wearing a properly fitted helmet for these sports can reduce the chance of brain injury by 85 per cent.The Adopt a Helmet contest runs until July 20, 2012. For contest rules and guidelines, please visit adoptahelmet.com/contest.For more information about using and choosing a proper helmet, please visit ottawa.ca/health or call 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with OPH on Facebook and Twitter (@ottawahealth). read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Ottawa Residents-Petrie Island

Ottawa’s Beaches Now Smoke-FreeOn Saturday June 16th, Ottawa’s...

Ottawa’s Beaches Now Smoke-FreeOn Saturday June 16th, Ottawa’s four supervised beaches – Britannia, Westboro, Mooney’s Bay and Petrie Island – officially opened for the summer season.  Ottawa’s new smoke-free regulations now prohibits smoking on the beaches in addition to parks, playgrounds, sports fields, ByWard and Parkdale Market stands and outdoor restaurant and bar patios and terraces.   The beach at Petrie Island in Orleans was the place to be on Saturday where thousands of Ottawa residents participated in the 3rd annual Carivibe Beach Festival.  This annual event is a celebration of Caribbean culture where festival participants enjoyed non-stop entertainment, classic Caribbean cuisine and beverages as well as cultural clothing and accessories-all within a smoke-free environment.Listen to what these festival participants had to say about Ottawa’s smoke-free beaches. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKdr2ELSMpE To learn more about Ottawa’s new smoke-free regulations, or if you need help quitting smoking, please visit ottawa.ca/smokefree or call Ottawa Public Health Information 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with OPH on Facebook and Twitter (@ottawahealth) read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Child Development

Growing Up On Track

Parents want the best for their children!  They work very hard to coax a baby’s first smile, steps and words.  But parents often worry about:

• When children should master each skill
• How to help their child learn tasks and skills

It is very important for babies and young children to develop and learn the skills they need as they grow up.  Many children need extra help in one or more areas.  IT is easier to correct or catch up on growth and skills when you figure out what your child needs as soon as possible. [[MORE]]How do I know that my child’s growth and development is on track? One tool that you can use to check on your child’s development is the Nipissing District Development Screen (NDDS) for infants and children up to 6 years of age.  This tool is available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.  It includes:

• A checklist of skills most children can do at each age
• Tips on what to do to help children learn

Where can I get this information?The NDDS is free-of-charge for people living in Ontario.  You can receive your copy by: 

• Ordering copies at www.ndds.ca
• Registering at 222.endds.com/en/index.html to receive the tool by email
• Calling the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744

How does the tool for checking child development work?Parents can use the tool themselves for their child or they can get help from a public health nurse, doctor, child care provider or Early Years Centre.On your own or with help, first answer the 12 to 14 questions about your child’s skills.  If you answer “no” to a question, think about why your child cannot do this skill.  Also, use the tips provided to do what you can to help your child learn.If you have questions about your child’s growth and progress, how to use the NDDS, or where to find help, please call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744 | TTY 613-580-9656, visit ottawa.ca/health or your child’s doctor. read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Public Opinion Research-Community Engagement-Public Consultation-Advocacy Strategy

LET’S CLEAR THE AIR: A RENEWED STRATEGY FOR A SMOKE-FREE OTTAWA

This report outlines a proposal for a Renewed Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa, designed to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoke (SHS) and to reduce tobacco use.   The proposed strategy includes a significant increase in programming for people who want to quit; new smoke-free regulations to protect people from SHS and a public awareness, community engagement and advocacy strategy designed to make Ottawa a healthier city for all. OPH is recommending to the Ottawa Board of Health (BOH), the Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) and City Council that existing smoke-free regulations be amended, beginning this year, to prohibit smoking on: ·         All municipal properties, including parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields, fruit and vegetable markets and outdoor areas around City facilities; and ·         Outdoor restaurant and bar patios and terraces.  These initiatives have been developed after extensive public consultation and research and do not require additional funding to enforce or to deliver enhanced services. OPH’s consultations and public opinion research indicate that Ottawa residents strongly support creating more smoke-free spaces. If the recommendations in this report are adopted by Council, Ottawa will join a growing number of municipalities that have made such places smoke-free.  SHS is a known health hazard and studies have found that it can be as toxic outdoors as indoors (1-12). Sadly, every year 1,000 smokers and non-smokers in Ottawa die prematurely of tobacco related illness (13). Smoking and SHS has a financial cost as well, including $2 billion in direct health care costs to the Ontario economy (14). For Ottawa residents, hospitalization costs alone due to smoking-related illnesses are almost $40 million per year (13). The purpose of the proposed regulatory amendments is to reduce public exposure to SHS and the resulting risk of tobacco related chronic illness. The proposed amendments are part of an overall OPH strategy to protect children and non-smokers from SHS exposure, reduce smoking rates, increase tobacco cessation attempts, reduce tobacco use initiation, and improve health outcomes such as reducing heart attacks, respiratory illness and cancer.  The regulations would complement community engagement activities that will advance smoke-free policies in settings such as hospitals and post-secondary campuses, doorways, hotels, motels and bed and breakfast establishments, spectator events, multiple unit dwellings, and outdoor worksites such as construction sites. A phased-in approach for enforcement of the regulatory amendments is recommended. Beginning with awareness raising and warnings, fines would not be levied until three months after the amendments take effect. It is anticipated that there would be a high degree of voluntary compliance and, as a result enforcement is recommended to be predominantly complaint-driven and would not require additional by-law staff or other resources. Enforcement would be accompanied by a parallel strategy that includes a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the regulatory changes and to increase awareness of the health risks of tobacco smoke and the dangers of water-pipe use.Full Report here read more..

source:ottawa.ca