Sarnia-Lambton’s acting medical officer of health is wishing residents a healthy holiday season from respiratory viruses and food-borne illnesses.
Dr. Karalyn Dueck started working with Lambton Public Health (LPH) in November.
As some residents gather with loved ones over the holidays, Dueck said there are some measures people can take to stay healthy, as it is still cold and flu season.
"This includes our basic actions like staying up to date on our vaccines, self-screening for symptoms of illness and staying home when we're sick, coughing and sneezing into our arm or sleeve, and then washing our hands thoroughly and using hand sanitizer," she said.
"It's a busy time of year and sometimes it's difficult to remember to sleep or eat well or stay physically active, and keeping those in mind is really important to help keep you healthy this time of year."
On the topic of eating well, some may take part in potluck dinners but Dueck said it's important to remember proper food preparation procedures.
"Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate, and use separate cutting boards for those," she said. "Ensuring that you're cooking meat to appropriate internal temperatures, this is usually around the 160 Fahrenheit mark but it could vary."
Food should also be refrigerated within two hours of purchasing or cooking it. Dueck said other food safety measures can be found on the health unit's website.
In addition to wishing residents a happy and safe holiday season, Dueck is hoping members of LPH can enjoy this time as well.
"I see how hard everyone works and I certainly want everyone to enjoy some time with those they love and have some rest and hopefully have time to get some energy before the new year," said Dueck.
LPH and its sub-offices will be closed on Friday, December 26-27, December 30, and January 2, 2023.
Water sample drop-offs at the Point Edward main office can be done from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on December 28 and 29.
After-hours support for a public health emergency (such as an animal bite, food poisoning, a disease outbreak, or natural disaster) will be available by calling (519) 383-8331 or 1-800-667-1839.
