Climate Change

Climate change doesn’t just affect the planet—it affects you, your family, and your community. Here in Ontario, we’re seeing more heatwaves, heavy storms, and floods than ever before. These changes can put your health at risk, but there are simple steps you can take to stay safe.

What is climate change?

Climate change means big changes in weather that happen over a long time. This includes:

• Warmer temperatures

• Stronger storms

• Changes in rainfall

Some of these changes are natural, but human activities—like driving cars, burning fuels, and cutting down forests—have sped them up in the past 200 years.

How does climate change affect your health?

Here are some ways climate change can affect you and your family:

Hot and cold weather

• Heatwaves can make you feel tired, dizzy, or even cause heatstroke

• Sudden cold snaps can put stress on your heart or cause frostbite

Storms and floods

• Floods, wildfires, and storms can damage homes and cause injuries

• Losing your home or belongings can also be stressful or upsetting

Air quality issues

• Smog and pollen can make it harder to breathe if you have asthma or allergies

• Air pollution can affect your heart and lungs.

Unsafe water and food

• Flooding can contaminate water or food with harmful bacteria, which may make you sick

Insect-borne diseases

• Warmer weather helps ticks and mosquitoes spread diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus

How to protect yourself and your family

Here’s how you can stay safe:

Be prepared at home

• Create an emergency kit with:

• Food, water, medications, and a flashlight

• Batteries, a first-aid kit, and important documents

• Protect your home from flooding by clearing gutters and having a backup pump ready

Stay cool during heatwaves

• Drink lots of water and avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day

• Spend time in air-conditioned places like malls or libraries if your home gets too hot

Be cautious outdoors

• Use bug spray and wear long pants and sleeves to avoid mosquito and tick bites

• Check your body for ticks after spending time in grassy or wooded areas

Prepare for poor air quality days

• Stay indoors with windows closed when the air quality is bad

• Use an air purifier if possible, and avoid physical activity outside

Stay informed

• Sign up for weather alerts to get updates about heatwaves, storms, and air quality

Check our indoor air quality guide for tips on keeping your home safe

What is Southwestern Public Health doing about climate change?

We’re working to protect your health in Oxford, Elgin, and St. Thomas by:

• Studying the risks of heatwaves, storms, and floods

• Monitoring air and water quality

• Tracking diseases like Lyme disease to keep you safe

With this information, we’re creating programs to help protect your health and build stronger communities.

Additional resources

• Government of Canada: Climate Action

• Ontario Government: Climate Change Information

• Canada’s Climate Change Report