KFL&A Public Health News Wire

Drinking water advisory issued for Crow Lake

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

KFL&A Public Health has issued a Drinking Water Advisory to affected individuals who draw their water from or near Crow Lake because of an oil spill of home heating fuel into Crow Lake.

A Drinking Water Advisory means that people who take their water from the lake should not be using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or food preparation, including washing fruits and vegetables, making juice, or preparing infant formula. The water should not be used for laundry or bathing.

For these purposes, water from an alternate source, such as bottled water, should be used. Boiling the water will not make it safe for...

Photovoice winners announced

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

KFL&A Public Health awarded the top prize in its Photovoice photography contest last night at the celebratory gala event to mark the conclusion of this initiative.

“We want to give youth a voice on health issues that matter to them,” said Katherine Hare, public health nurse with KFL&A Public Health. “It was so interesting to see our community through the eyes of local youth and learn what inspired or concerned them about what they see around them.”

More than 65 photos taken by youth between the ages of 10 and 24 were submitted to Photovoice. Entrants were asked to photograph things t...

Photovoice winners will be announced June 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

On Thursday, June 6, 2013, KFL&A Public Health will be announcing the local winners of this year’s Photovoice contest. Youth, aged 10 to 24, were invited to take pictures of issues about healthy living and wellbeing in the community, and submit them along with a description of what the photo meant to them. Health topics depicted in the photographs include tobacco use, substance use, healthy eating, physical activity, mental health, injury prevention, and the environment, just to name a few.

Who: KFL&A Public Health representatives
What: Celebratory gala to announce winners o...

May 31 is World No Tobacco Day

Wed, 29 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Each year on May 31, World No Tobacco Day is celebrated worldwide. This year, KFL&A Public Health wants to remind people of the recent additions to Kingston’s No Smoking bylaw. The amended No Smoking bylaw in Kingston now includes all parks, beaches, sports fields, and outdoor public event areas. This gives everyone an opportunity to be active and have fun while enjoying smoke-free outdoor spaces.

Kingston should be proud of its work in this area. The City has joined a growing number of neighbouring municipalities such as Quinte West, Ottawa, Petawawa, and Smiths Falls by restricting or prohibiting the use of tobacco i...

Take the Commuter Challenge

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Residents and employers of Kingston are encouraged to participate in the second annual Commuter Challenge June 2 to 8, 2013, being hosted by the Kingston Coalition for Active Transportation (KCAT).

“The Commuter Challenge is a great way for our city to show Canada how active, healthy, and environmentally-friendly Kingston is,” said Jennifer Hroch, public health nurse with KFL&A Public Health. “With all the activities taking place during the week, there is some added incentive for people who usually actively commute to continue doing so, but we hope that the events will encourage some people to try active co...

Notice of Board of Health meeting

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Board of Health’s May 2013 meeting is taking place as follows:

Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Boardroom
(please enter the main entrance of the building)

KFL&A Public Health
221 Portsmouth Avenue
Kingston, Ontario

Copies of the complete Board Agenda, including all Information Items, are available upon request.

Complete the Community Wellbeing Survey

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

KFL&A Public Health, the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing encourage everyone who has received a Community Wellbeing Survey to please complete it. The results of the survey will help the involved organizations to improve programs and services to meet the current needs of the population and to direct grants to charities in the areas of greatest need. The survey has been sent to 11,000 randomly selected residents to ask about their social, health, environmental, and economic concerns. The deadline for residents to complete the anonymous, online survey is May 31. We thank all respondents for ta...

KFL&A cafeterias recognized for making the healthy choice the easy choice

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Twenty workplaces in the KFL&A area are being recognized by KFL&A Public Health for their commitment to providing healthier food choices, improved food safety, and contributing to a smoke-free Ontario. The winners include two gold and eighteen bronze Eat Smart!® Workplace Awards of Excellence.

“The average working adult spends about 60 percent of their waking hours at work,” said Heather McMillan, public health dietitian at KFL&A Public Health. “Promoting healthy food choices in the workplace is key to supporting employee health.”

The program is open to all workplaces in KFL&...

First KFL&A Food Policy Council seeking members

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

KFL&A Public Health along with a number of local agencies who have formed the KFL&A Healthy Eating Working Group is seeking members for the first Food Policy Council for the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington area.

“Creating a Food Policy Council for our region will be instrumental in working towards the KFL&A Food Charter’s purpose of creating a more secure, accessible, and sustainable food system for our region,” said Rachael Goodmurphy, public health dietitian with KFL&A Public Health and member of the KFL&A Healthy Eating Working Group. “The Council will bring people to...

Rolling on the Runway fun for entire family

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

All residents of Kingston are cleared for take-off at the 11th annual Rolling on the Runway event Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. KFL&A Public Health is opening Kingston Airport for families to ride, cycle, scoot, skate, and roll down the runway.

“Rolling on the Runway was created to promote the importance of physical activity as well as increasing awareness of safe cycling practices and proper helmet use,” said Mary Jean Short, public health nurse with KFL&A Public Health. “Injury is the leading cause of death in Canadian children and youth and bike helmets can prevent up to 88 percent of brain...

The hidden truth about tanning

Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

KFL&A Public Health is launching a new campaign today called “The Hidden Truth About Tanning Beds” to raise awareness about melanoma and other types of skin cancer.

“We believe it is appropriate to start this education campaign about tanning on Melanoma Monday,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, Medical Officer of Health, KFL&A Public Health. “Using tanning beds increases the risk of all major types of skin cancer. Tanning beds are especially harmful for those who start using them before the age of 35, since the risk of melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – is higher when people use...

Community Wellbeing Survey – Checking the Pulse of KFL&A

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

KFL&A Public Health, the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW) are partners in a national pilot program to measure how the citizens of the KFL&A are really doing.

Through this program, residents will be surveyed randomly to learn about their quality of life, which takes into account much more than economic considerations. The answers to the survey will help us to identify whether the overall quality of life in the area is getting better.

“We want to make sure everyone in our community has access to the services and supports they need to lead healthy, a...

Notice of Board of Health meeting

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Board of Health’s April 2013 meeting is taking place as follows:

Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: Boardroom
(please enter the main entrance of the building)

KFL&A Public Health
221 Portsmouth Avenue
Kingston, Ontario

Copies of the complete Board Agenda, including all Information Items, are available upon request.

Armed for Adulthood

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

KFL&A Public Health is celebrating National Immunization Awareness Week from April 20 to 27. As part of this celebration, the agency would like to remind everyone about the importance of getting a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) combined vaccine) booster between the ages of 14 to 16 years.

“Parents sometimes forget about the 14 to 16 year old booster because their children have not needed routine immunizations since they were between 4 and 6 years old,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, Medical Officer of Health, KFL&A Public Health. “This immunization is very important to protect the yout...

Too much sitting is bad for your health

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Consider adults who work 40 hours per week, eat a relatively healthy diet, and exercise enough to get the recommended minimum 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. Are they healthy?

“We might be tempted to think these people are doing everything right to be healthy,” said Peter Bearse, public health nurse, KFL&A Public Health. “Research has shown, however, that too much sedentary behaviour, like prolonged sitting, is associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, even in those who are active enough to meet the Canadian physical activity guidelin...