Public Health Emergencies

During a disaster, threats to public health may arise almost immediately – drinking water may become contaminated or the air unsafe to breathe. Lambton Public Health is an important resource during such times and Lambton's Medical Officer of Health is a member of the County Emergency Control Group, which directs the overall County response during an emergency. During local emergencies, the Medical Officer of Health may be called upon to provide advice to municipalities about public health matters.

Drinking Water Safety

Many Lambton County residents are served by a municipal drinking water system sourced from Lake Huron. For one reason or another, there may be times when the Medical Officer of Health needs to advise the public to either boil or stop using piped water until a problem has been resolved.

Depending on the nature of the problem, the Medical Officer of Health may issue one of the following types of advisories:

Boil water advisories

Boil water advisories advise home users that they should bring their tap water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute before they:

drink the water
use the water for other purposes, such as to:
- cook
- feed pets
- brush their teeth
- make soups or ice cubes
- wash fruits and vegetables
- make infant formula or other drinks

During a boil water advisory, do not use tap water to bathe those who need help, such as:

infants
toddlers
the elderly

Give them sponge baths instead so they avoid swallowing the water.

Boil water advisories are issued when:

there are problems with the water treatment system, such as chlorine levels that are too low
the water has disease-causing:
- viruses
- bacteria
- parasites

Do not consume advisories

Do not consume advisories are issued when the water system has contaminants, like lead, that can't be removed from the water by boiling.

Do not consume advisories are also called do not drink advisories. These advisories tell the public that they should not use their tap water to:

cook
drink
feed pets
brush their teeth
make soups or ice cubes
wash fruits and vegetables
make infant formula or other drinks

During a do not consume advisory, do not use tap water to bathe those who need help, such as:

infants
toddlers
the elderly

Give them sponge baths instead so they avoid swallowing the water by accident.

The water can still be used to shower and bathe:

adults
older children

Do not use advisories

Do not use advisories warn the public that they should not use their tap water for any reason. A do not use advisory is issued when:

using the water poses a health risk
the water system has pollutants that can't be removed through boiling
being exposed to the water through bathing could, perhaps due to a chemical spill, irritate the:
- skin
- eyes
- nose

Preparedness

Take steps now to be prepared for a possible interruption or contamination of the drinking water supply. Create a 72 hour stockpile of drinking water, allocating 4 litres of water per person per day (provide for pets too). This amount should provide a sufficient quantity of water for drinking, cooking, washing, brushing teeth, etc.

Notifications

Local residents will be informed of a water advisory through the media. Those residing in the affected area will be notified though Sarnia-Lambton Alerts and possibly via door-to-door notification.

After the cause of the advisory has been addressed and the drinking water has been made safe, only the Medical Officer of Health can lift the advisory. Residents will normally be notified when the advisory has been lifted through the same means used to issue the advisory. As with any emergency, listen to your radio for news and updates.

If your drinking water has an unusual taste, colour or odour and you suspect that it has become contaminated, contact:

Lambton Public Health: 519-383-8331 / 1-800-667-1839

Food Safety

Food safety is the top priority of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The CFIA, along with other government organizations, works to protect Canadians from preventable food safety hazards. When food products are found to be unsafe, the CFIA will alert the public. Sources of information on food safety alerts include the CFIA website and the “Food Safety Network”.

During or Following a Food Safety Emergency

If you lose power, do not open your refrigerator or freezer unless absolutely necessary. Discard any thawed food that has been at room temperature for more than two hours.

If you have food stored in an area which has been flooded, dispose of any items that have been exposed to flood waters including:

The contents of your freezer or refrigerator including all meats and all fresh fruit and vegetables
All boxed foods
All bottled drinks and products in jars, including home preserves, since the area under the seal of jars and bottles cannot be properly disinfected
Cans with large dents or that reveal seepage. All undamaged canned goods must be thoroughly washed and disinfected

REMINDER: Anything that stays wet long enough will grow mould, and mould can make people sick. Dry everything quickly to avoid future health problems.

Infectious Disease

Influenza

Infectious disease remains a major cause of illness and death in the community. Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care estimates that as many as 8,000 Canadians die every year due to the flu (influenza) and complications from the flu. That is why so much effort is put into annual vaccination campaigns. Flu shots are especially important for those with compromised immune systems. Lambton Public Health's website contains more information about the flu vaccine.

Pandemic

A pandemic can arise from a new or mutated virus to which people do not have immunity.

Historically, most pandemic viruses have been traced to an avian (bird) or swine (pig) virus that was either contagious or became contagious to humans through genetic mutation (i.e. the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic virus originated in pigs).

Major pandemics of the last one hundred years include the Spanish Flu (1918), the Asian Flu (1957), the Hong Kong Flu (1968) and COVID-19 (2019). Public health professionals therefore remain vigilant to ensure that systems are in place to control or respond to infectious disease outbreaks.

Rabies

The rabies virus is carried through an animal's saliva. Rabies can infect humans and other animals through a bite or scratch from an animal with rabies, or if the rabies virus meets an open cut or the moist tissues of the mouth, nose or eyes. Rabies is fatal if untreated.

Most rabies in Canada is carried by wildlife. This makes control difficult and eradication almost impossible. Foxes, skunks, bats and raccoons are the main carriers and pose a continuous threat because they often live close to people. If they infect your farm animals or pets, they may endanger you.

If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the wound with soap and hot water and contact your family doctor.

Report all biting incidents to Lambton Public Health.

For more information about Rabies Control, please contact the Rabies Control Team Leader at 519-383-8331 Ext. 3578 or 1-800-667-1839 or by e-mail.

The Ministry of Health has two toll-free lines for direct and immediate access to information about rabies:

general public 1-800-268-1154
hearing impaired 1-800-387-5559

General information about rabies is also available by calling the Ontario Rabies Hotline at 1-888-574-6656 or visiting Ontario's rabies website.