New co-chairs to lead reinvigorated Community Drug Strategy for the City of Greater Sudbury
The Community Drug Strategy for the City of Greater Sudbury is announcing newly appointed co-chairs of its Executive Committee: Dr. M. Mustafa Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for Public Health Sudbury & Districts, and Heidi Eisenhauer, Executive Director for Réseau ACCESS Network.
The Community Drug Strategy is realigning its structure to focus on the recommendations from the Greater Sudbury Summit on Toxic Drugs. This means shifting emphasis away from enforcement to more root cause approaches on health promotion, providing comprehensive supports like housing and employment, and substance use care.
“As the unregulated drug supply becomes more toxic, we must work collectively to reduce harms and save lives, while addressing the root social causes of this crisis to the best of our abilities. The reinvigorated Community Drug Strategy will build on the outcomes of the Greater Sudbury Summit on Toxic Drugs to develop and implement initiatives to address this complex issue,” said Dr. M. Mustafa Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for Public Health Sudbury & Districts. “On behalf of the executive committee, I’d like to extend my thanks to the previous co-chairs, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, former Medical Officer of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts and Greater Sudbury Police Service Chief Paul Pedersen, for their tireless efforts to make communities safer and reduce harm associated with substance use. Their leadership laid the strong foundation on which we now stand, ready to move the work forward together,” said Dr. Hirji.
The Community Drug Strategy is building on its foundation to strengthen community collaboration and aims to address harms associated with substance use with increased representation from people with lived and living experience, Indigenous community partners, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, and experts in various fields.
“The refreshed structure and leadership of the Community Drug Strategy is another step forward in addressing the toxic drug crisis and strengthening our collaborative efforts as a community,” said Heidi Eisenhauer. “By adding wrap around supports, like housing, education, and stable employment as a stream of work within the Strategy, we are acknowledging the role that the lack of basic needs plays in the crisis. Substance use care will also combine the former harm reduction and treatment pillars to better represent individuals along the entire substance use spectrum. I welcome the opportunity to co-lead the Community Drug Strategy as we work toward a safer and healthier community for all,” said Heidi Eisenhauer.
The new streams of the Community Drug Strategy will address substance use and its impact on community health comprehensively. This will involve health promotion, education, and collaborative efforts, benefiting all members of the community. These approaches will support the community by increasing access to various services for health and well-being along the entire substance use spectrum and breaking down barriers by addressing stigma.
Focusing on the recommendations included in Honouring Voices, Embracing Perspectives, Moving Forward: A Summary Report on the Greater Sudbury Summit on Toxic Drugs (PDF), the new streams will allow for coordinated action to address substance use health and the toxic drug crisis.
For more information on the Community Drug Strategy and substance use, please visit phsd.ca/cds.
This item was last modified on June 18, 2024
Seasonal public beach water testing begins
Public Health Sudbury & Districts is conducting the pre-seasonal assessment of all 34 public beaches to ensure the beach is suitable for public recreational use. This includes sampling the water for E. coli and conducting safety checks for hazards that would render the beach area unsafe. This will occur between June 10 and June 19, 2024. Throughout the summer, Public Health Sudbury & Districts regularly samples the water at local public beaches. Once routine sampling commences, inspection results and beach status from across our service area can be viewed by visiting the Check Before You Go! website.
The water samples collected will be analyzed for E. coli bacteria, which normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The presence of this bacteria above acceptable levels can be an indication of fecal pollution, which could come from stormwater runoff, pets, or wildlife. If a bather ingests water with high concentrations of E. coli, they could experience an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting.
If water samples show elevated concentrations of bacteria, Public Health will post signs warning the public that the beach is unsafe for swimming and more frequent sampling will be collected to monitor the water quality at the beach. The swimming advisory signs will remain until tests show that the bacteria levels are acceptable.
Here are some tips to keep you and your children safe in and around water this summer:
- Avoid swimming and other recreational water activities for 48 hours after a heavy rainfall. E. coli levels may increase during this time.
- Always supervise children in and around water and be sure to keep young children within arms’ reach.
- Make sure young children and non-swimmers wear personal floatation devices (for example, life jackets) at all times.
- Pay attention to any signs posted as they will have important information to keep you and your children safe.
- Try not to swallow the water because it could make you or your children sick.
Members of the public are asked to contact Public Health for any blue-green algae sightings or physical hazards at a public beach. Blue-green algal blooms can have an unsightly pea soup appearance and foul smell and can produce toxins. A public health inspector will provide immediate follow-up. For additional information regarding blue-green algae, please visit the Public Health Sudbury & Districts website.
To report a blue-green algal bloom or for more information on seasonal public beach water testing, please visit our website at phsd.ca or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
This item was last modified on June 6, 2024
Drinking water advisory lifted for the Town of Gore Bay
Public Health Sudbury & Districts has officially lifted the drinking water advisory that came into effect Saturday, June 1, 2024, for residents of the Town of Gore Bay.
Public Health issued the drinking water advisory because of a temporary loss of pressure in the municipal water system, as a result of a watermain break.
“The bacteriological quality of the water supply has been tested with no adverse results being reported,” said Burgess Hawkins, a manager in the Public Health’s Health Protection Division. “Residents in the affected areas may notice chlorine odours and discoloured water.”
What to do after a drinking water advisory is lifted and before using the water:
- Run cold water faucets for 5 minutes or until the water runs clear.
- Run drinking fountains for 5 minutes before using the water or until the water runs clear.
- Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
- Drain and refill hot water heaters.
- Large-volume users (for example, schools) may need to run cold water taps longer on first use.
- To get rid of sediment, faucet screens should be removed, rinsed and put back in place.
For more information, please call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200) or visit phsd.ca.
This item was last modified on June 4, 2024
Stop mosquito bites and protect yourself from West Nile virus
When spending time outside, mosquito bites are a reality. Everyone is at risk of contracting West Nile virus. Preventing mosquito bites is important to protect yourself and your family. Mosquito populations in our area have been confirmed in past years to carry West Nile virus, and we have seen human illness.
Symptoms of West Nile virus infection can range from mild to severe. Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms while some may experience mild symptoms including fever, headache, body aches, mild rash, and swollen lymph glands. In some cases however, the infection can affect the central nervous system and cause serious symptoms including severe headache, stiff neck, difficulty swallowing, nausea or vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness, muscle weakness, and paralysis, in addition to high fevers. In these cases, West Nile virus infection can be fatal.
Although the overall risk of becoming infected with West Nile virus is low, Public Health reminds everyone of simple measures you can take to protect against mosquito bites:
- Use an insect repellent approved by Health Canada, containing either DEET or icaridin, and follow the application instructions on the package.
- Stay indoors, if possible, from dusk to dawn when mosquitos are most active.
- Wear light-coloured clothing, including long sleeves, long pants, socks, and a hat whenever you are outdoors.
- Check your window and door screens to ensure that there are no tears or holes for mosquitoes to get through.
- Consider the use of mesh “bug jackets” or “bug hats.”
Mosquitoes need only a small amount of calm, standing water to lay their eggs and for larvae to hatch. Reduce mosquito breeding areas by changing or removing standing water at least once a week from the following areas:
- bird baths
- old tires
- containers, barrels
- flowerpot saucers
- swimming pool covers, wading pools
- clogged gutters and eaves troughs
- clogged drainage ditches
- small containers like cans or bottle tops
- unused children’s toys
Public Health Sudbury & Districts will continue to monitor West Nile virus in the region, including by trapping and testing mosquitoes again this season starting in June and continuing to the fall.
For more information on West Nile virus, please visit our website at phsd.ca or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
This item was last modified on May 21, 2024
Emergency Preparedness Week
Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is a national event supported by Public Health Sudbury & Districts, working closely with provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations who support activities at the local level. An annual event for over 25 years, Emergency Preparedness Week 2024 is May 5 to 11.
Emergencies can take many forms, for example, chemical spills, severe air quality from forest fires, danger from floods, a pandemic due to a new influenza strain. Being prepared is our best defense against an emergency and the risks they pose to our health and well-being.
Everyone has a role to play in emergency preparedness. EP Week is an opportunity for you to take action to ensure you are prepared to protect yourself, your family, and your community during an emergency. This year, the theme is “Be Prepared. Know Your Risks.” The intent of the week is to encourage Canadians to understand the risks in their area and learn what actions they can take to protect themselves and their families.
Knowing the risks specific to your area can help you prepare for emergencies by visiting www.phsd.ca/health-topics-programs/emergencies-being-prepared/.
What is an emergency plan?
Every household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency. Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another and discuss what you would do in different situations.
Both the Canadian Government and the Ministry of the Solicitor General have online emergency plan outlines that you can use to create your own plan.
What is an emergency kit?
Your emergency survival kit should have everything you and your family would need to be safe and take care of yourselves for at least 3 days immediately following an emergency. It should also be portable to take with you in the event of an unexpected evacuation.
For more information on emergency preparedness, please visit phsd.ca or contact Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
This item was last modified on November 15, 2024
Protect your eyes during the solar eclipse
With the solar eclipse taking place on Monday, April 8, Public Health Sudbury & Districts is reminding everyone that looking directly at the sun without appropriate protection can lead to serious eye injury, including loss of vision. Children may not understand the risks of looking at the eclipse and should be supervised during the entire eclipse.
It is not safe to look at the eclipse without approved eye protection. Even looking at a small portion of the sun before, during, or after the eclipse without eye protection can harm your eyes and vision.
The solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Ontario between approximately 2 and 4:30 p.m. Sudbury and Manitoulin districts will experience a partial solar eclipse, with the peak coverage of the sun’s disk occurring at 3:19 p.m. in Sudbury.
How to protect your eyes during the eclipse:
- Watching the eclipse online from a safe indoor space if possible. Many websites will have live streaming video. This could be a good option for children in your care to safely experience the eclipse.
- Do not look at the sun without approved eye protection. Regular sunglasses will NOT protect your eyes. Windows in your home, workplace, or vehicle do not offer protection either.
- If you choose to look directly at the eclipse, eclipse glasses that have specialized filters that meet the international standard ISO 12312-2 should be worn to prevent eye damage.
- Do not use a pair of eclipse glasses if they are damaged. This includes making sure the lenses are not wrinkled or scratched. Damaged lenses will not protect you.
- Make sure your eclipse glasses fully cover your field of vision.
- Start by putting your glasses on while looking away from the sun. Once you have your glasses on properly, you can look at the eclipse. And, look away from the sun before taking your glasses off.
- Do not look at the eclipse through a camera or phone lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
Looking at the sun can injure your eyes in several ways, for example:
- Burning your retina.
- Blurring your vision.
- Causing you to lose your sight immediately or over time.
You may not notice the eye injury or damage right away. It can take 12 to 48 hours to appear. If you look at the eclipse and experience blurred vision or any vision loss during or after the eclipse, speak to your eye care professional (for example, optometrist) or your health care provider as soon as possible.
If you don’t have proper, safe eye protection, you can make a simple eclipse box that will let you see the eclipse safely without looking at it directly (Canadian Space Agency). Agencies like NASA will also stream the eclipse live online.
For a video about how to stay safe while watching a solar eclipse, visit the Canadian Space Agency. For health advice in Ontario, dial 811 (TTY 1.866.797.0007) to speak with a registered nurse (Health811), or call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200) or visit phsd.ca.
This item was last modified on April 5, 2024
Drug warning: Increase in suspected drug poisonings (overdoses)
The Community Drug Strategies have received reports of an increase in the number of drug poisonings (overdoses) and unexpected reactions from the use of substances in the Sudbury and districts area.
While we cannot confirm the substance(s) causing the overdoses, this situation serves as an important reminder to the community that street drugs may be cut or mixed with substances such as benzos (benzodiazepines), xylazine, fentanyl, or carfentanil. Frontline workers warn that more toxic substances may be circulating locally. As well, with the recent closure of the supervised consumption site, persons who used to depend on that service may be at increased risk when using now.
An overdose occurs when a person uses a substance and their body is unable to handle the effects. As a result, the brain is unable to control basic life functions. The person might pass out, stop breathing, or experience a seizure. Overdoses can be fatal and non-fatal.
Prevent overdoses to save lives:
- Carry a naloxone kit. Know how to use it (PDF).
- Call 911 if you suspect an overdose.
- Avoid mixing drugs, including prescribed, over the counter, and illegal drugs.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while using other drugs.
- Use caution when switching substances: start with a lower dose than you usually would.
- If you have not used in a while, start with a lower dose. Your tolerance may be lower.
- When using substances, consider the following options:
- Avoid using drugs when you are alone.
Opioid overdose symptoms include:
- fingernails and lips turn blue or purplish black
- skin turns bluish purple, grayish, or ashen, depending on skin tone
- dizziness and confusion
- the person can’t be woken up
- choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds
- slow, weak, or no breathing
- drowsiness or difficulty staying awake
Due to benzodiazepines (benzos) toxicity, an overdose may last for hours and look like:
- extreme sleepiness or passing out
- poor balance and movement control
- slurred speech
- blackouts and memory loss
How to respond to an overdose:
- GIVE NALOXONE. This will help reverse an opioid overdose and will do no harm if the overdose is not due to opioids. This may improve breathing, but the person may not regain consciousness due to sedation. Additional doses maybe needed.
- Call 911 to get medical help and keep monitoring breathing. Stay with the person until help arrives.
- If the person is unconscious, place them in the recovery position.
Where to get naloxone?
For a free naloxone kit, contact The Point at Public Health Sudbury & Districts, Réseau Access Network, or ask your local hospital or pharmacy. Or, visit www.ontario.ca/page/get-naloxone-kits-free.
Be cautious if using drugs and please distribute this information widely to help save lives.
This item was last modified on April 2, 2024
Drug warning: Increase in suspected drug poisonings (overdoses)
The Community Drug Strategies have received reports of an increase in the number of drug poisonings (overdoses) and unexpected reactions from the use of substances in the Sudbury and districts area.
While we cannot confirm the substance(s) causing the overdoses, this situation serves as an important reminder to the community that street drugs may be cut or mixed with substances such as benzos (benzodiazepines), xylazine, fentanyl, or carfentanil. Frontline workers warn that more toxic substances may be circulating locally, including a potent orange substance, which is causing people to ‘black out,’ putting people at risk for harm, injury, or loss. It is important for individuals to avoid using substances alone. It is also important to stay with someone who has blacked out or overdosed to ensure their safety.
An overdose occurs when a person uses a substance and their body is unable to handle the effects. As a result, the brain is unable to control basic life functions. The person might pass out, stop breathing, or experience a seizure. Overdoses can be fatal and non-fatal.
Prevent overdoses to save lives:
- Avoid using drugs when you are alone.
- Carry a naloxone kit. Know how to use it (PDF).
- Avoid mixing drugs, including prescribed, over the counter, and illegal drugs.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while using other drugs.
- Use caution when switching substances: start with a lower dose than you usually would.
- If you have not used in a while, start with a lower dose. Your tolerance may be lower.
- When using substances, consider the following options:
- Call 911 if you suspect an overdose.
Opioid overdose symptoms include:
- fingernails and lips turn blue or purplish black
- skin turns bluish purple, grayish, or ashen, depending on skin tone
- dizziness and confusion
- the person can’t be woken up
- choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds
- slow, weak, or no breathing
- drowsiness or difficulty staying awake
Due to benzodiazepines (benzos) toxicity, an overdose may last for hours and look like:
- extreme sleepiness or passing out
- poor balance and movement control
- slurred speech
- blackouts and memory loss
How to respond to an overdose:
- GIVE NALOXONE. This will help reverse an opioid overdose and will do no harm if the overdose is not due to opioids. This may improve breathing, but the person may not regain consciousness due to sedation. Additional doses maybe needed.
- Call 911 to get medical help and keep monitoring breathing. Stay with the person until help arrives.
- If the person is unconscious, place them in the recovery position.
Where to get naloxone?
For a free naloxone kit, contact The Point at Public Health Sudbury & Districts, Réseau Access Network, or ask your local hospital or pharmacy. Or, visit www.ontario.ca/page/get-naloxone-kits-free.
Be cautious if using drugs and please distribute this information widely to help save lives.
This item was last modified on March 19, 2024
Student immunization record assessment activities begin at Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Public Health Sudbury & Districts (Public Health) is conducting its annual review of immunization records for students attending secondary schools in its service area.
The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990 requires all students under the age of 18 to have an up-to-date immunization record or to have a valid immunization exemption to attend school in Ontario. As outlined in the legislation, Public Health must collect and maintain immunization records for students in its service area. Under the ISPA, the Medical Officer of Health can issue suspension orders to students who do not meet the requirements of the ISPA, preventing them from attending school until their records are updated.
To start the annual record review process, an immunization notice will be mailed to all secondary students in Grades 9 to 12 for whom Public Health does not have an up-to-date immunization record. This could mean that the student’s most recent vaccine records have not been received by Public Health or that the student is overdue for one or more vaccines. The notice specifies which of the required vaccine(s) are missing from the student’s record and how to update the information with Public Health.
Public Health will be working closely with local school boards, students, parents, and guardians in the coming months to ensure that immunization records are updated and that required vaccines that have not been received are administered and reported to Public Health so that students can avoid suspension.
“At this time there are about 1700 students enrolled in secondary schools across our service area who will receive a letter asking them to provide immunization information to Public Health,” said David Groulx, a manager with Public Health’s Vaccine Preventable Diseases team. “Students who do not have the required immunizations will be advised in the letter to get vaccinated and to report this information to Public Health. It will also provide a potential date of suspension for the student if the information is not received. A second letter will be mailed four weeks later for those who remain outstanding with the ISPA requirements, and the suspension will take effect on the date indicated in the notice if the information has not been received,” said Groulx.
It is anticipated that first notification letters for elementary students will be mailed out later in 2024. Catch-up clinic appointments will be offered by Public Health during the summer so that children can obtain any vaccines that they are missing. Parents and guardians of elementary students are urged to ensure their child’s immunizations are up-to-date and reported to Public Health over the summer months to avoid suspension.
Vaccines against diseases that are designated under the Immunization of School Pupils Act are free, safe, and effective, and protect against cases and outbreaks of diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, pertussis, and chickenpox.
In Ontario, parents and guardians are responsible for reporting immunizations for their school-aged children to a public health unit. Health care providers are not required to report immunizations for their patients to Public Health.
Please refer to Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule (Ontario Government) for information about vaccinations your child can receive free of charge to have the best protection.
How to check or update your child’s immunization records
- CHECK: Check your child’s immunization record for any missing vaccines by referring to Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) (Government of Ontario).
- VACCINATE: Ensure your child receives any missing immunizations by making an appointment with your health care provider or with Public Health.
- UPDATE: Update your child’s immunization record with Public Health using one of the following methods:
- Visit Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) (Government of Ontario).
- Send an email to ISPA@phsd.ca (Public Health). *Requires consent to be used to send personal or personal health information.
- Call Public Health at 705.522.9200, ext. 458 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
- Send a fax to 705.677.9616 (confidential school vaccine fax).
Public health nurses are available to your answer questions by phone, email, and in person. Appointments for immunizations are available throughout Public Health’s service area during regular business hours. Weekend appointments may be offered in the coming months to better serve our communities, and updates about these will be shared with the community as opportunities arise.
For more information on immunization requirements or exemptions, parents and guardians can call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 458 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), email ispa@phsd.ca, or visit phsd.ca.
This item was last modified on March 8, 2024
Planned website outage, March 1, 2024
Please be aware that our website will not be available during a planned outage on Friday, March 1, from 6 to 10:15 p.m. This outage will also affect our Check Before You Go! disclosure website. Thank you for your patience.
This item was last modified on March 1, 2024
Drinking water advisory lifted for the Town of Gogama
Public Health Sudbury & Districts has officially lifted the drinking water advisory that came into effect Monday, October 9, 2023 for residents of the Town of Gogama.
Public Health issued the drinking water advisory because of a temporary loss of pressure in the municipal water system. The water has been tested to ensure its safety.
“The bacteriological quality of the water supply has been tested with no adverse results being reported,” said Burgess Hawkins, a manager in the Public Health’s Health Protection Division. “Residents in the affected areas may notice chlorine odours and discoloured water.”
What to do after a drinking water advisory is lifted and before using the water:
- Run cold water faucets for 5 minutes or until the water runs clear.
- Run drinking fountains for 5 minutes before using the water or until the water runs clear.
- Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
- Drain and refill hot water heaters.
- Large-volume users (for example, schools) may need to run cold water taps longer on first use.
- To get rid of sediment, faucet screens should be removed, rinsed and put back in place.
For more information, please call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 464 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200) or visit phsd.ca.
This item was last modified on October 11, 2023
Environmental Public Health Week celebrates the work of public health inspectors
Standing up to protect everyone’s health each and every day is the work of environmental public health professionals and the theme of this year’s Environmental Public Health Week, September 25–October 1, with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).
Public health inspectors across our service area —and Canada—work collaboratively with our partners to control disease, reduce or remove hazards, prevent injury, and help Canadians stay out of hospitals.
“The work of public health inspectors may not always be seen, but it is always there to protect you and your family,” said Stacey Laforest, Director of Health Protection. “Public health inspectors check your favourite restaurants, the public pools and beaches where you and your children swim, and ensure the water you drink is safe. We are very proud of our public health inspectors’ ongoing commitment and dedication to public health.”
The inspectors educate and ensure compliance with guidelines and regulations in a variety of program areas including, but not limited to, recreational water, infectious diseases and infection control, food safety, safe drinking water, health hazard response, onsite sewage systems, and rabies prevention and control.
They use many strategies and interventions to prevent illness and premature death by reducing environmental-related health risks to members of our communities.
For more information about Environmental Public Health Week or the services environmental public health professionals provide, please call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 398, toll-free at 1.866.522.9200, or visit www.phsd.ca.
This item was last modified on September 26, 2023