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Emergency Preparedness

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Take time to consider what you will do if you or a family/household member becomes sick and needs care.
If you are responsible for dependents, including young children or elderly relatives, consider putting in place alternative care plans should you…

Like public beaches, pools and other artificial recreational waters are great places to have fun and cool off in the summer. However, they can also be a breeding ground for recreational waterborne illnesses (RWIs), including a wide variety of infections such as gastrointestinal, skin, ear,…

The effects of pesticides (including herbicides, fungicides and insecticides) on human health are complex and not completely understood. However, there are clear links between pesticide use and illness. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to provide recommendations and information about…



Mould in the corner of a room.


Mould is a health hazard. It is a type of fungus – or more accurately, a group of different kinds of fungi – that can grow in damp areas in public places and in your home. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to:


Inspect public areas as necessary and…

Introduction

After a flood, it’s important to restore your home to good order as soon as possible to protect your health and prevent further damage to your house and belongings. Whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor, this handy checklist will help you organize the clean up.…

Home. It’s where we should feel most safe – and part of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to help you keep it that way. Possible health hazards in your home such as those listed below are either preventable or can be planned for. Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, all it takes is…

Bed bugs are insects with oval-shaped bodies and no wings. Unlike most public health pests, bed bugs are not known to transmit or spread disease. However, they are certainly a pest - feeding on blood, causing itchy bites and generally irritating their human hosts and they can cause other…

Rodents and insects can be a big problem for both homeowners and business owners. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit provides information about prevention and control, and public health inspectors inspect businesses in the District – particularly restaurants and food vendors – for signs of pests…

Beach Notifications

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit will notify the public of any issues concerning beaches tested by the Health Unit. 

Beach advisories will be issued in beaches outside of Thunder Bay (with the exception of private beaches and provincial parks) when recreational water…

The environment affects our children more than it does adults for various reasons (read on below). The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to inform the public about these risks and provide information on how to reduce them. We want to help you ensure your children – and all children living…

Ammonia is a colourless gas with a very distinct odour. People may readily recognize this smell because it is used in many household cleaners and window cleaning products. High levels of airborne ammonia gas can dissolve in water to cause corrosive ammonium hydroxide. Most people smell ammonia…


Our lakes are great places to relax, cool down, and have some family time during the summer. But bacterial infections such as E. coli can put a damper on the fun. Our role is to monitor public beaches within the city and district (with the exception of beaches within provincial parks) and alert…

Radon is an invisible, odourless radioactive gas that can be found in homes across Canada. It is produced naturally in the ground as uranium breaks down. The resulting gas can seep through cracks in the foundation, pipe openings, sump pits, and other openings into your home. Although it is present…

Water – it’s not just for drinking! Kids and adults alike love to splash around in it, water ski on it, and dive down into it, especially on a hot day. But water is also an excellent place for germs to live. Whether it is outdoors at our local beaches and lakes or indoors in our pools and spas, we…

Extreme heat events due to a changing climate are a growing public health risk in Canada. Because of our cooler climate in the Thunder Bay District, we can be more susceptible to extreme heat than those who are regularly exposed to it.

Heat Illnesses

Extreme heat puts everyone at risk of heat…