Reminder to be safe while enjoying outdoor fun for residents of Oakville, Burlington, Milton

If you’re looking for some outdoor fun this summer, Halton Region is offering some tips to residents of Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.

“As you plan for activities outdoors this summer, it is important to keep health and safety top of mind,” said a Regional spokesperson.

“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.”

Here are some of the resources, services and tips offered by the Region.

Before heading to the beach, you can sign up for email updates or check the Beach Water Monitoring page to confirm if the water is safe for swimming. The Public Health team monitors the water quality at public beaches in Halton from June to the first week of September.

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 the 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.

When spending time outdoors, you should protect yourself from ticks and mosquitoes 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
• check your body, clothing and pets for ticks after spending time outside.

For more information, visit the Lyme disease and West Nile virus pages.

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.