Extreme Heat and Cold Weather Alerts
If conditions dictate, the Lambton County Community Health Services Department will issue alerts advising the public of potentially unhealthy weather conditions such as extreme heat and humidity and extreme cold. Please click here to find out if an alert has been issued for Lambton County.
Safety Outdoors
Although development seems to be all around us in Southern Ontario, we're fortunate in Lambton County to have a number of wetlands, woodlots, beaches, campgrounds and conservation areas. While we perhaps don’t have "wilderness" areas, some areas abound with nature and it possible for children and even adults to get lost. Nobody expects to get lost, but it happens.
Common sense and preparation are keys to enjoying local outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing or cross-country skiing.
Preparation and Planning
- Make sure all your equipment is in good working order and that you know how to use it. If in doubt about what you need, consult a local outfitter or recreational organization. It pays to invest in good equipment.
- Wear clothes and footwear appropriate for the terrain and weather conditions you expect to encounter. Remember, weather and temperature can change very quickly.
- Garbage bags are compact, easily carried and can protect both adults and children from hypothermia. The bag will help you to conserve body heat and stay dry in cool or wet weather. Orange or yellow bags are usually best. They can help searchers see you better if you are lost in dense bush. Make sure everyone knows how to wear the bag.
- If possible, never go into a remote area alone. Adults and children are far safer when they have a partner. Always tell someone where you are going. If there is no one around, leave a note in your home, trailer, tent or car.
- Before swimming, make sure to check for hidden obstacles under the surface of the water (e.g., rocks and logs). Avoid water with fast currents. Never swim alone.
- Avoid wild animals that come too close or seem too friendly.
Outdoors Tips For Children
- Set boundaries - Make sure children are familiar with the camping area. Show them where and how far they can go. Do the same for swimming areas.
- Stay in one place - Tell children if they ever get lost to select a tree (or some other object) near a clearing and stay there. This will keep the child in one place, increasing chances of discovery.
- Noises - Tell children to yell at noises that scare them. If it is an animal, they will frighten it away. This will also help searchers find them.
- Look big - A child can attract the attention of a search plane passing overhead by lying down in a clearing, wearing a brightly coloured garbage bag or jacket.
- No punishment - Reassure children that no one will be angry with them if they get lost. There have been cases where children have hidden from searchers because they were afraid of being punished.
Please click on the PDF file below to learn how to prepare for the woods.
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Prepared_for_the_Woods.pdf