Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall
Weather forecast for Monday, July 31, 2017
Today – Sunny this morning and early this afternoon then a mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers this afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon. High 30. Humidex 34. UV index 9 or very high.
Tonight – Partly cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers early this evening. Otherwise clear. Risk of a thunderstorm early this evening. Low 16.
Municipal summer information meetings about community hubs
Municipal staff members will be on the road again in August as they travel throughout Chatham-Kent to gather information on how best to meet the needs of residents in various communities.
During July, public input sessions were held in Wallaceburg, Dresden, Wheatley, Tilbury, Blenheim and Chatham.
Round two will take place in the same communities in order to reach individuals who were not able to attend the first sessions.
Here are the dates and locations:
Dr. April Rietdyk, General Manager, of Health and Family Services for the municipality, said staff learned a lot from the first round of consultations and is looking for more information.
“The residents of Chatham-Kent care for their communities and want simple things, a few more library hours, community gardens to stock their food banks, swimming time on Saturdays, more programs for youth, and basic needs, things like high speed internet,” she said.
“Community input provides valuable information for administration and Council as we address the goals of CK Plan 2035 and prepare for the 2018 municipal budget deliberations.”
One of the aspects being discussed during the community meetings is how to improve services through initiatives such as community hubs.
“Taking a variety of services and putting them in one accessible, appropriate location is an idea that has worked in a number of communities,” Rietdyk said. “It allows agencies and community groups to share services more effectively and efficiently, all with a desire to meet residents’ needs in a more meaningful way.”
She said community hubs can take many different forms, making the gathering of information essential. “What works in one area may not be ideal somewhere else. That’s why it is so key for us to know what each community wants, what’s important to them, and how the municipality can help.”
Summer safety tips for parents
Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit officials say as the weather gets warmer, playing at the beach, water park, lake, or in a pool can be a delight on a hot day.
However, too much sun can be harmful to your child and a sunburn can happen in as little as 15 minutes.
Also, drowning is the second leading cause of death in children and can happen in as little as one inch of water.
Here are some tips to keep your children safe this summer.
Fun in the sun
Prevent your child from getting a sunburn by avoiding sun exposure, especially during the peak intensity hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ages 0-6 months – babies’ skin is not fully developed yet and the sun can be more dangerous for them than for older children and adults.
– Keep babies in a covered stroller, under an umbrella or in the shade
– Dress infants in lightweight long pants, sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck
– It is not recommended to use sunscreen on babies under 6 months of age
Ages 6 months and up
– Use sunscreen that is SPF30 or higher with UVA/UVB protection
– Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours; more often if swimming or sweating
– Don’t forget important areas such as nose, ears, neck, back of legs and tops of feet
– Do not use sunscreen containing insect repellant
Water safety
Drowning can happen where you’d least expect it. Always watch children closely when they are in or near any water.
– Keep children within an arm’s reach
– Young children and inexperienced swimmers should always wear a Canadian approved lifejacket or personal flotation device when playing around water
– Teach children water safety rules; sign them up for swimming and water safety programs
Adults can sign up for a First Aid/CPR course
If you own a pool, build a 4-sided fence around the pool to prevent a drowning accident
Apply your sunscreen, put on your sunglasses and hat and enjoy playing safely in the water with family and friends! For more information contact the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit at 519.352.7270.
Join the TD Summer Reading Club at Dresden Branch
Join Chatham-Kent Public Library as they continue saying ‘Salut!’ to summer with TD Summer Reading Club.
CKPL is celebrating Canada’s 150th Anniversary this summer.
If you haven’t already signed up for TD Summer Reading Club you still have time.
Get a free reading log to track your reading and join us for many fun activities and exciting events that are planned throughout August for children and families.
The library engages children in the joy of reading and helps prevent learning loss during the summer months.
Stop by, anytime, to find interesting and entertaining books and movies.
Special programs and drop-in activities are being offered all summer long! Programs offered in August at the Dresden branch, include:
New hospital units in Toronto and London to treat complex blood cancers
Ontario is increasing access to stem cell transplants for people who have complex blood cancers, with new state-of-the-art hospital units in Toronto and London.
Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto recently to make the announcement.
“With this new funding, we are helping hospitals provide life-saving stem cell treatment closer to home,” Hoskins said.
“The excellent work and recommendations of the Stem Cell Treatment Consultation Group has enabled the construction of these state-of-the-art facilities in Toronto and London. The government’s investment in the two new units will reduce wait times and improve care for Ontarians who need stem cell transplants.”
Provincial officials say the new and modern inpatient units will address an increasing demand for stem cell transplants, and will be located in two major hospitals:
– Princess Margaret Cancer Centre will have 15 new inpatient beds and a new outpatient clinic that will support up to eight new stem cell therapy physicians.
– London Health Sciences Centre will have seven new inpatient beds, a renovated and larger outpatient treatment clinic, and a new outpatient and chemotherapy pharmacy.
When complete, patients in Ontario that need stem cell transplants will benefit from 22 new beds, which will allow for a total of 440 stem cell transplants per year.
Ontario is also releasing the year-end report from the Minister’s Stem Cell Consultation Group, which includes progress made in expanding capacity and access for stem cell transplants in Ontario. The announcement has been informed by the group’s advice on improving stem cell delivery and the patient experience.
More details:
– A stem cell transplant is a procedure that replaces abnormal cells in patients whose normal cells have been affected by lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma and other cancers and disorders affecting the blood.
– There are three types of stem cell transplants: those where the cells come from the patient (autologous), those where the cells are taken from a related donor (allogeneic related) and those provided by an unrelated donor (allogenic unrelated).
– Six hospitals provide stem cell transplant services in Ontario: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences Centre, Kingston General Hospital, Health Sciences North, London Health Sciences Centre, and the Ottawa Hospital.
– The Stem Cell Transplant Consultation Group includes clinical experts, hospital leaders and patient and family representatives. They provide advice to improve capacity and patient access for stem cell transplants.
Ontario is providing a one-time funding to both hospitals to speed up the construction of the new units.
Photo of the day
Along with the tips provided by the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit above, the organization has array of other useful information on their website. Check it out, here. Here is the cover photo from their Facebook page, which can be seen, here.
World news
Marking a 100 years since the battle of Passchendaele
At least seven injured as car drives into crowd in Los Angeles
Airline probes claims airport worker punched passenger
Putin expels 755 US diplomats from Russia
US claims successful THAAD test with missile over Pacific Ocean
Two dead after nightclub shooting in Konstanz, Germany
Thousands evacuated as the Tomorrowland stage catches fire
There are fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild
If you have a suggestion, story idea, column idea, or if you want to say hello… drop me an e-mail at aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.
