Population Health

With so much information coming at a person about COVID-19, sometimes it is difficult to tell fact from fiction. Follow these tips to tackle the daily misinformation tsumani. Tips we should all follow BEFORE we share information:... Know the source even if your friends or family sent you the information, you should still find the original source before sharing. Read beyond the headline headlines can be misleading. Research the author are they real? Credible? Review the facts. Check the date is the information being shared up to date? Ask questions talk to your healthcare provider if you have health questions. Use your judgement.

UPDATED December 11, 2020 * FOOD RESOURCES: BATTLEFORDS If you know of someone who is struggling with food insecurity right now, please let them know there are resources in our community they can turn to. If you know someone who is looking to help the community right now, this resource also provides ideas on how you can help in this time of need. Thank you to these organizations for everything they are doing to keep our community well!

Warm Up Locations in North Battleford :

Self-isolation is required for everyone in the home when someone tests positive. Recruit a friend or neighbour to do errands and shopping.

Rural Food Resources - St. Walburg, Turtleford, Maidstone, Lashburn, Marshall - updated December 11

Warm Up Locations in North Battleford :

We must all do our part to slow COVID-19 transmission. wash your hands often physically distance whenever possible stay home if unwell wear a mask in p...ublic don’t touch face with unclean hands keep social bubble small clean common surfaces often See more

Self-isolation is required for everyone in the home when someone tests positive. Recruit a friend or neighbour to do errands and shopping.

THE SWISS CHEESE MODEL: With pandemic fatigue increasing, public health experts are reminding people of the importance of using personal safety precautions in an unusual metaphor: cheese. The Swiss Cheese Model uses slices of cheese to visualize how interventions work together to prevent transmission of infections. Each intervention including physical distancing, mask wearing, hand washing and disinfecting is depicted as an imperfect barrier to virus transmission by the holes in the cheese. By putting the slices together, we minimize risk.

We have heard from members of the public that they have received calls from a 306 number asking for their Social Insurance Number. Please note that no agency re...quires a SIN as part of contact tracing. We encourage anyone with concerns about suspicious calls to contact their local police or the RCMP.

Rural Food Resources - St. Walburg, Turtleford, Maidstone, Lashburn, Marshall - updated November 13th

UPDATED November 13, 2020 * FOOD RESOURCES: BATTLEFORDS If you know of someone who is struggling with food insecurity right now, please let them know there are resources in our community they can turn to. If you know someone who is looking to help the community right now, this resource also provides ideas on how you can help in this time of need. Thank you to these organizations for everything they are doing to keep our community well!

Flu clinic added for Edam!

UPDATED September 11th * FOOD RESOURCES: BATTLEFORDS If you know of someone who is struggling with food insecurity right now, please let them know there are resources in our community they can turn to. If you know someone who is looking to help the community right now, this resource also provides ideas on how you can help in this time of need. Thank you to these organizations for everything they are doing to keep our community well!

Sept 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day #rootsofhope

WATCH: Stacey Wiens, SHA Registered Dietitian and Public Health Nutritionist, gives tips on making the most of your garden harvest.

https://skprevention.ca/my-saskatchewan-pregnancy/

National Immunization Awareness Month Optimizing health through vaccination protects individuals from life-threatening diseases & helps maintain overall health to fight off diseases for which there are no vaccines. #ivax2protect #NIAM2020

Population Health Services is excited to introduce Cody Loewen, Registered Nurse, as the new Breastfeeding Nurse serving the Battlefords! Cody comes to the position with 2 years of experience working in the Women’s Health and Birthing Unit at BUH and 4 years as a Public Health Nurse in North Battleford. Breastfeeding support will continue but some services may be limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please feel free to continue to refer any patients or families to C...ody for breastfeeding concerns and education. If you have any questions, you may contact Cody at the below contact information. Cody Loewen, RN, Breastfeeding Nurse Primary Health Centre Suite 101 11427 Railway Avenue North Battleford, Sk. S9A 3G8 Call: (306) 446-8632 Text: (306) 480-4086 Email: [email protected] We would like to thank Naida Hawkins, Lactation Consultant, who has left this position to continue to advance the More Milk Sooner program. We wish her the best in her endeavors and know that she is working hard to improve breastfeeding experiences for moms and babies everywhere. She remains in the Battlefords area and will continue general public health nurse practice with the SHA.

*UPDATED list - Grocery Stores - June 4 - what our biggest grocery stores are offering in terms of special hours and services to help support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to all of our grocery providers for the vital role they are playing to keep us healthy.

Phase Two of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan is now in motion, but it’s important to remember that we are not back to business as usual. We still have to be careful, considerate of others and continue physical distancing.

This is a stressful time for everyone. Stress is a normal, biological reaction to any change that requires adjustment or response. However, if your stress is be...coming overwhelming, please reach out. In addition to the Farm Stress Line, you can find supports at HealthLine 811, Mobile Crisis, Kids Help Phone, and more. Mental Health supports: https://www.saskatchewan.ca//20/mental-health-and-covid-19?

Wearing a non-medical mask even if you have no symptoms is an additional measure you may take to protect others around you. However, it is important to unde...rstand wearing a non-medical mask will NOT prevent you from getting sick, it is simply another way of covering your mouth and nose to prevent your respiratory droplets from contaminating others or landing on surfaces. A homemade mask does not replace public health measures that are proven to be effective. Also be aware that masks can become contaminated on the outside or when touched by hands.The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to continue to: practice physical distancing; wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water; and cover your cough or sneezes with tissues or your sleeve. More information: https://www.saskatchewan.ca//pu/guidance-on-homemade-masks?

All public health orders remain in effect to stop the spread of COVID-19. Things to keep in mind when going outside: Maintain a distance of 2 metres (that's 4... 1/2 watering cans) from other people Avoid shared public surfaces Keep children away from group settings Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds when returning home See more

Gloves are worn to avoid cross-contamination. That means they should be worn for one activity only (if disposable) and washed between uses if reusable. In a cli...nic/hospital environment, a clinician will glove up before touching a patient and then discard the gloves before moving on to another task. If you are wearing the same gloves when you shop, then touch supplies, then grab a shopping cart, then open a door, then check your phone, then touch your face and so on, you are cross contaminating all those surfaces and spreading germs. It’s actually better not to wear gloves at all when out completing errands. Instead, thoroughly wash your hands (20 seconds) after going out or having completed a task. Remember not to touch your face while you are out.

This year, we mark National Immunization Awareness Week at a time when we are facing a once-in-a-generation, global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us o...f the importance of vaccines in protecting our community and in reducing the burden on Canada’s healthcare system. Vaccines protect everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable. Talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or local public health office about the vaccines you and your family need to stay healthy. This National Immunization Awareness Week, talk to your doctor or Public Health Authority about how you can keep your vaccines up-to-date. https://www.canada.ca//provincial-territorial-immunization

While Canada’s top researchers work to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, Canadians should continue to vaccinate against other serious disease. Keep your family’s vac...cinations up-to-date to help: Protect your loved ones Protect the most vulnerable people Reduce the burden on Canada’s health care system More info: https://www.canada.ca//p/topics/immunization-vaccines.html #NIAW2020 #VaccinesWork #COVID19SK

Did you know Saskatchewan family health practitioners can offer phone and in some cases video consultations for many needs including some prescription renewal, ...medical advice, and even specialist check up appointments? Call their office and ask for an appointment when you need it. The physician will call you at the appointment time. "I needed advice. I called my doctor's office and got an appointment to speak with our doctor within a few hours. It was such a relief and she was able to prescribe over the phone." - S.B., mother of two.

Infants are at great risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. Their immune systems are less able to fight off infection. Get your infant vaccinated on time, starting at 2 months of age, for the best protection.

After a month of taking preventative measures, such as staying home and maintaining physical distancing, it will be tempting to get outside to enjoy the warmer ...temperatures forecasted for many areas across our province. All public health orders remain in effect to stop the spread of COVID-19 and all provincial parks remain closed. Things to keep in mind when going outside: Maintain a distance of 2 metres from other people Avoid shared public surfaces Keep children away from group settings Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds when returning home

Vaccinations keep your child safe from vaccine preventable diseases. Although there is no vaccine for COVID-19, now is not the time to unnecessarily avoid, delay or cancel your child’s routine immunization appointments! Here at Population Health we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of you and your family as we navigate this pandemic together. To book a vaccination appointment in North Battleford, call (306) 446-6400. Telephone screening will be done to make sure it is safe and appropriate for you to attend your appointment. #VaccinesWork

Covid19 Mythbusters: https://www.who.int//novel-/advice-for-public/myth-busters

Use the Government of Canada app to get all the latest on #COVID19 in Canada. Self-assessment tool Resources Statistics Updates ... http://ow.ly/5M8D50z2bKk

Teens can follow more complicated recipes or assemble and mix most ingredients. Have them try making one meal per week. Here's a recipe to get them started: Super Easy Chicken Parm - available at www.NutritionMonth2020.ca #NutritionMonth #MoreThanFood