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January 29, 2013 – Smokers from across Ontario have the opportunity to enroll in the STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Program and receive nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), free of charge to help them in their attempt to quit smoking.

For many smokers the cost of nicotine replacement products can be a barrier to quitting. The STOP Program provides five weeks of free NRT, a practical support for alleviation of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which has been shown to be effective to help people quit smoking.

Those interested in participating in the STOP program may do so by attending a STOP workshop, to be held in Peterborough on March 5, 2013. To see if you are eligible to participate, and to register for the workshop(s) call Peterborough Public Health at (705) 743-1000, Monday to Friday 8:30 – 4:30.

The STOP Program is conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of its Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy.

In addition to providing NRT, the STOP Program will offer educational material to encourage the program participants to make broader changes that can improve their overall health. Often smoking does not occur in isolation, but rather accompanies other risk factors for disease, such as poor nutrition and lack of physical activity.

CAMH isCanada’s leading addiction and mental health teaching hospital. Integrating clinical care, scientific research, education, policy development and health promotion, CAMH transforms the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.

For more information contact:Michael Torres, CAMH Media Relations, at (416) 595-6015.

Serena Jewer, Peterborough Public Health, at (705) 743-1000 ext. 394

 

Background: The STOP Program

 

Introduced in 2005 through a partnership between the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the former Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport, the STOP Program has already provided nicotine replacement therapy including nicotine gum and patches, as well as bupropion and varenicline, free of charge, along with counseling support to an unprecedented 80,000 people from acrossOntario.

 

Baseline questionnaires and follow-up surveys, spaced over six months post treatment will help the STOP Program researchers learn more about the long-term impact of providing nicotine replacement therapy and other smoking cessation aid free of charge to smokers across  Ontario. To date, results for STOP participants have shown an improvement of at least two times the typical quit rates.

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January 25, 2013 – With the forecast of warmer temperatures, Peterborough Public Health is lifting the Frostbite Alert issued on January 20, 2013 effective today, Thursday, January 24, 2013. 

The Public Health has adopted a series of extreme cold thresholds designed to advise the public, health professionals, and community service providers on appropriate measures they can take to reduce the health effects of cold temperatures and wind chills.  These advisories, comprising of a Frostbite Alert, Frostbite Warning, and Cold Weather Emergency are issued when cold temperatures with or without wind chill are forecast and weather-related health effects may occur.

While the Frostbite Alert has been lifted, residents are reminded to take precautions in cold weather, including drinking plenty of warm fluids, ensuring exposed skin is covered when outdoors, and staying indoors in a warm environment whenever possible.

For further information about cold weather precautions and Public Health’s Extreme Cold Response Plan, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca under “My Home & Environment” by clicking on “Extreme Weather – Cold”.

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For further information, please contact:
Shawn Telford
Public Health Inspector
(705) 743-1000, ext. 287

 

January 21, 2013 – The Peterborough Public Health has issued a Frostbite Alert beginning Monday evening (January 21) until Thursday morning (January 24) because of forecasted low wind chills of -31 Tuesday evening and -28 on Wednesday evening.

Extreme cold events are a potentially significant health risk and can have a severe impact on the health of vulnerable populations including infants, the elderly, people with circulatory problems, and the marginally housed. 

In order to protect the health of people in Peterborough County and City, Public Health advises local residents to take the following precautions:

  • Check face and extremities frequently for signs of frostbite. Exposed skin can freeze in as little as 10 to 30 minutes.
  • Consider re-scheduling outdoor recreational activities on Tuesday and Wednesday night. There is a serious risk of hypothermia if outdoors for long periods.
  • Check on the elderly or people with disabilities living alone.

Cold related illnesses include:

Hypothermia: 
Symptoms/signs include: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling/uncoordinated
movements, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness.

Frostbite:          
Symptoms/signs include: white/greyish skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, or numbness.

Increases in other health problems can also be seen, especially for those with other chronic medical conditions such as heart conditions.

The following heated public facilities are available to local residents seeking a place to warm up: 

  • Shelters – Brock Mission and the Youth Emergency Shelter.
  • Lighthouse Community Drop-In Centre – St. John’s Anglican Church, Brock St. (daytime drop-in shelter)

 

Further information about the health risks of extreme cold and Public Health’s Extreme Cold Response Plan can be found on this website under “My Home & Environment” by clicking on “Extreme Weather – Cold”.

For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Supervisor
(705) 743-1000, ext. 391

January 14, 2013 – Click here to view the Board of Health Summary, January 9, 2013 

January 11, 2013 – Restaurant Meets All Required Safe Food Handling and Inspection Standards

The Peterborough Public Health stated today that Ming’s Restaurant has met all the requirements for safe food handling and passed a pre-opening inspection allowing it to reopen.

Ming’s was ordered closed on December 14, 2012 following an outbreak of lab-confirmed cases of Salmonella linked to the restaurant.  A total of 18 cases were identified (14 lab-confirmed, 4 epidemiologically-linked) from patrons who had eaten at the restaurant.

“We are confident that our Public Health Inspectors have taken all the steps necessary to prevent further Salmonella cases from Ming’s Restaurant,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “We would like to thank the owner and staff at Ming’s for their full cooperation with the investigation and review of food safety measures during the closure of the restaurant.”

Dr. Salvaterra said the source of the outbreak was undetermined which is not surprising considering the interval between the time when people ate at the restaurant and when Public Health first received notification of the outbreak.  The Public Health conducted a thorough investigation of the premises and staff including:

An immediate and  complete inspection of the restaurant

  • Testing food samples
  • Testing food preparation surfaces and storage areas
  • Requiring the testing of all staff
  • Consultation, contact tracing and obtaining food histories from all cases

The following steps were taken by Public Health to ensure Ming’s was safe for the public and ready to reopen:

Ensuring that all staff were free of Salmonella.

  • Conducting a pre-opening inspection. No violations were noted.
  • All restaurant staff have received Public Health’s Food Handler Training course and are certified.
  • A cleaning and disinfection policy and procedure is in place and approved by Public Health.

The Public Health reminds residents that the best way to minimize your chances of contracting Salmonella and other food-borne illnesses is to follow these steps:

Contaminated foods may look and smell normal. Thoroughly cook foods to destroy the bacteria.

  • Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry or meat. Remember raw eggs are contained in foods such as homemade hollandaise sauce, caesar and other salad dressings, tiramisu, homemade ice cream, homemade mayonnaise, cookie dough and frostings.
  • Poultry and meat, including hamburgers, should be well-cooked, not pink in the middle. If you are served undercooked food in a restaurant, send it back.
  • Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk and other dairy products. Mother’s milk is the safest food for infants. Breast feeding prevents salmonellosis and many other health problems in nursing infants.
  • Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.
  • When buying and storing groceries, keep meats separate from fruits, vegetables, cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
  • Because bacteria grow quickly at room temperature, go directly home from grocery shopping and refrigerate or freeze food immediately.
  • Always defrost food in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave, never at room temperature. Set your refrigerator to 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) and your freezer to -18 degrees C (0 F).
  • Wash your hands before handling any food. Be sure to wash your hands, cutting boards, counters, knives and other utensils after preparing uncooked foods.
  • If you have been diagnosed with salmonellosis, do not prepare food or pour water for anyone else until you are clear of the bacteria.
  • Wash your hands after contact with animal feces, for example, after changing the kitty litter or scooping up after your dog.
  • Since reptiles can have Salmonella, always wash your hands after handling them. Reptiles, including turtles, are not appropriate pets for children and should not be in the same house as an infant.

If you are diagnosed with salmonellosis, be sure that you or your doctor informs the local Public Public Health. If many cases occur at the same time, it may mean that a restaurant or a particular food item maybe contaminated and Public Health needs to investigate.

For further information, please contact:

Brittany Cadence
Communications Supervisor
(705) 743-1000, ext. 391

January 10, 2013 – Public Appointment Position Available

The Board of Health is recruiting candidates to fill a public appointment position on the Board of Health in 2013.  Interested persons are asked to submit a letter of application along with a resume outlining your qualifications and experience to:

Mr. David Watton, Chair
Board of Health
Peterborough Public Health
185 King Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 8M1
Fax: (705) 743-1810 E-mail: atanna@peterboroughpublichealth.ca

Applications to be received no later than:

Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ noon.

Details:

The Board of Health is the governing body, the policy maker of Public Health.  It monitors all operations within Public Health and is accountable to the citizens of Peterborough County and City, Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations, and to the Government of Ontario.

The duties of the Board of Health are carried out under the authority the Health Protection and Promotion Act and its Regulations.  Board of Health members have the responsibility for delivery of local public health programs and services by:

  • Ensuring that the structure of the board facilitates effective governance and respects partnerships with municipalities and First Nations.
  • Operating in a manner that promotes an effective board, effective communication and transparency.
  • Developing a shared vision for the organization, establishing the organization’s strategic directions, and governing the organization to achieve their desired vision.
  • Understanding their fiduciary roles and responsibilities, ensuring that their operations are based on the principles of transparency and accountability, and that board of health decisions reflect the best interests of the public’s health.
  • Ensuring that the board is responsive to the needs of the local communities and shows respect for the diversity of perspectives of its communities in the way it directs the administration of the health unit in planning, operating, evaluating and adapting its programs and services.
  • Ensuring that the administration of the board of health uses a proactive, problem solving approach to establishing its operational directions, demonstrates its organizational priorities and objectives through its actions on program delivery, and functions in an efficient and effective manner.

January 7, 2012 – Location: Council Chambers, Peterborough County Court House

The community is advised that the next meeting of the Board of Health will take place on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 4:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Peterborough County Court House located at 470 Water Street, Peterborough.

To download the agenda and the online board package, please visit:

http://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/about-us/about-us-2/board-of-health/meeting-agendas

The meeting is open to the community and members of the media.

For further information, please contact:

Brittany Cadence
Communications Supervisor
Peterborough Public Health
(705) 743-1000, ext. 391

 

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