Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

MEDIA RELEASE:

June 11, 2024

Food safety tips when barbequing

Barbequing provides a unique flavour to our food. As this type of cooking takes place outside of our kitchens, additional safety precautions need to be taken when handling, preparing and serving some of our favourite foods to ensure we prevent foodborne illness. There are 4 steps to food safety which apply: Separate, Clean, Cook, Chill.

Separate:

• Keep raw and ready to eat ingredients separate to prevent cross-contamination. 
• Store raw meat cuts on a tray on the bottom of the refrigerator or in a separate cooler with ice packs.
• Use a separate plate and utensils for raw meat and prepared meat.
• Dispose of any marinades that raw meat has been in.

Clean:

• Clean surfaces and utensils before preparing food and in between handling raw and ready to eat foods.
• Remember to wash your hands prior to handling food especially between handling raw and ready to eat foods (gloves are not a substitute for proper handwashing). 
• Fruits and vegetables that will be part of your meal should be washed under running water to remove dirt and other residues.

Cook:

• Cook meat thoroughly from start to finish (partially cooked meat for reheating later is an unsafe practice).
• Cooking kills bacteria found in raw meat.  Use a probe thermometer to check the doneness of the meat.  Different types of meat need to reach different temperatures to ensure they are safe: ground chicken and chicken pieces and meat mixtures need to reach 74°C (165°F), whole poultry 82°C (180°F) ground meats and pork 71°C (160°F) and fish and seafood 70°C (158°F). 
• Steaks, can be cooked to your preferred doneness provided they have not been mechanically tenderized and the outside surface has been cooked. 

Chill:

• Store potentially hazardous foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products in the refrigerator at 4°C or lower until ready to use.  Use lots of ice packs and/or bags of ice in coolers for picnics, BBQs or camping.
• Cool leftovers quickly and store covered in the refrigerator or cooler at 4°C.  Freeze meat products and cook from frozen to reduce risk.

REMEMBER: “If it’s pink in the middle, put it back on the griddle.”

For more information about food safety at home, visit our Food Safety page or call 1-800-660-5853. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @LGLHealthUnit or on Instagram @lglhealthunit.z for important public health updates.

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Please see the June 10th Media Release from the Small Business Advisory Centre pertaining to the local students who were selected for the 2024 Summer Company Program.

Brushing and ditching will begin in the Municipality on Thursday June 13, 2024, with a starting point at Land O Nod Road.

Calcium is being applied to all gravel roads within the Municipality over the next two weeks, beginning Wednesday June 12, 2024, a dust control.

MEDIA RELEASE:

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

June 6, 2024

Health Unit Sexual Health Clinic Changes Coming June 10

As of June 10^th, there will be some changes to the availability of sexual health clinic appointments and services:

• Brockville clinic will now have extended Thursday hours from 11am-7pm. There will not be a clinic on Mondays.
• Gananoque, Perth & Carleton Place are by appointment only, no walk ins.
• PAP testing will no longer be offered at LGL Health Unit sexual health clinics.

These changes have been made as a result of changing demographics in sexually transmitted diseases and a review of community needs and organizational capacity. The LGL Health Unit sexual health clinics are available in seven different locations across Leeds, Grenville and Lanark.

Accessing appointments at local Sexual Health clinics is easier with the Health Unit’s new online booking system, however anyone without a computer can still call the Health Unit directly to arrange an appointment.  Clinics in Brockville, Smiths Falls, Kemptville and Almonte may also be able to offer services to walk-ins, however appointments are highly encouraged.

Staff are non-judgemental, welcoming those of all ages, genders and sexual orientations into safe and positive spaces. Clients who attend these clinics do not need to have a health card or a primary health care provider.

The following services will continue to be offered at the clinics:

• Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and treatment at no cost
• Immunization if eligible (HPV, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, MPOX)
• Counselling about relationships and sexual health decision-making
• Other sexual health services such as low-cost and free birth control and pregnancy counselling and referrals

The Health Unit also has a Nurse Practitioner in some clinics, which has allowed for expansion of services to include IUD placement and removal, as well as addressing more complex sexual health issues. This helps to reduce barriers to clients by providing a rapid pathway to a provider, providing sexual health services to clients who do not have a primary care provider, and by reducing the number of visits clients need to make in order to receive care.

The Health Unit also is involved with the GetAKit program that provides at-home testing for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections. These kits can be ordered directly from the Health Unit website and are mailed to your home at no cost.

The healthunit.org website is full of great information that you can browse anytime, which includes a specific section on clinics and classes as well as a health information button which provides more general information about sexual health. Social media accounts such as Facebook, X and Instagram allow for important updates and direct messaging from clients.

Anyone seeking additional information can reach out through our email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the toll free number: 1-800-660-5853 to speak confidentially to a public health nurse.

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MEDIA RELEASE:

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

June 4, 2024

Summer Temperatures Have Arrived

Summer temperatures have arrived. While many welcome the warmer weather, the Health Unit is sending a reminder that high temperatures may affect your health.

Becoming over heated can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and in some cases death. Even short periods of exposure to high temperatures can cause health problems. If you experience the following symptoms after exposure to extreme heat seek medical attention immediately:

• Nausea, dizziness, blurred vision
• Difficulty or rapid breathing
• Severe headache or confusion
• Convulsion
• Fever

Everyone is at risk; however the following people are in greater danger of being affected:

• Elderly
• People with chronic illness or who take certain medications
• Infants and preschool children
• People who have challenges with housing and shelter
• People who participate in physical activity or are involved in strenuous outdoor work for prolonged period

Dr. Linna Li, Medical Officer of Health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, advises to keep cool and hydrated when it is hot outside and to take the following precautions:

• Do not leave children, adults or pets in parked cars or sleeping outside in direct sunlight.
• Consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding the side effects of your medications.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel very thirsty. Remember to take sips often and not to guzzle your drink. Learn more about hydration at unlockfood.ca.
• Eat foods that have high water content such as watermelon, grapes and oranges.
• Limit caffeinated beverages such as coffee and cola.
• Avoid going out in the blazing sun or heat. If you must go outside, stay in the shade as much as possible.
• Take a cool bath or shower periodically or cool down with cool, wet towels.
• Whenever possible go to an air-conditioned room or building.
• Wear loose fitting, light clothing and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors.
• Keep window shades or drapes drawn and blinds closed on the sunny side of your home.
• Keep electric lights off or turned down low.
• Visit a local splash pad.
• If you can, eat a variety of foods that can be prepared safely without using the oven.
• Don’t skip meals, instead eat smaller amounts more often. Use Canada’s New Food Guide. Check out the snacks on this page.
• Use fans to draw cool air at night, but do not rely on a fan as a main cooling device during long periods of high heat and humidity.
• Reduce the use of personal vehicles, stop unnecessary idling; avoid using oil-based paints and glues, pesticides and gas-powered small engines.

At this time Environment Canada and Climate Change has not issued a heat warning for Health Unit, heat warnings are issued when the:  

• Daytime temperature of 31ºC or higher and nighttime temperature not cooler than 20ºC for at least two days, or
• Humidex of 40ºC for at least two days

For more information on how to protect your health during extreme heat, visit our Exposure to Hot/Cold Temperatures page. For specific health heat-related questions call 1-800-660-5853 or 613-345-5685. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter @LGLHealthUnit or Instagram @lglhealthunit.z for important public health updates.

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A new one-stop-shop website connecting seniros and their families to government services and resources

Please see the attached News Release from the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility with information regarding Seniors Month in Ontario. 

For more information, please visit Ontario.ca/seniors.