Stay Healthy When Travelling This Winter

For Immediate Release

February 16, 2023

Burlington, ON – Making travel plans for the Family Day long weekend or March Break? Be sure to take precautions to prevent illness before you take a trip and while you’re away, health experts say.

“No one wants to spend their vacation in a hospital in another country, so we encourage everyone to follow some easy steps to avoid getting sick,” says Dr. Sunita Goel, Burlington family physician and co-lead of the Burlington Community Physician Council (BCPC) to the Burlington Ontario Health Team (BOHT). “Remember to wear a mask, wash your hands often, cough or sneeze into your elbow, don’t touch your face, and disinfect surfaces. It’s helpful to carry with you medications such as Tylenol, Advil, Gravol, Immodium, Pedialyte or Gastrolyte.”

If you’re travelling internationally, be sure to check Health Canada’s Travel Health Notices.

Even when staying close to home, it’s important to take steps to safeguard your health, such as staying up-to-date with routine and seasonal vaccinations, disinfecting your hands often and wearing a mask in crowded, public indoor spaces like sports venues.

Burlington and surrounding communities continue to experience a high level of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 and influenza. Stay home if you’re feeling unwell and know your health care options before coming to the hospital, says Dr. Joe Cherian, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Joseph Brant Hospital.

“If you need care for an ongoing illness, need a prescription refill, or have questions about your health care, these are all things that you should be talking to your family doctor about,” he said. You can also call Health811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) or go to www.Ontario.ca/Health811.

“But if you’re feeling very unwell and experiencing severe symptoms – such as severe chest pain and weakness, difficulty breathing, losing consciousness – you should call 911 or go to the Emergency Department,” he said.

For more information and resources, please go to the Joseph Brant Hospital website.

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About Joseph Brant Hospital

Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) is a full-service community teaching hospital located in the growing and thriving community of Burlington, Ontario, serving more than 185,000 residents in Halton, Hamilton, Waterdown, Flamborough, Milton and Stoney Creek. It is honoured to be recognized as one of Hamilton Niagara’s Top Employers for eight consecutive years, with a skilled staff of 194 physicians, 1,911 full- and part-time staff and more than 200 volunteers.

JBH is a Clinical Education site in conjunction with McMaster University, and designated as an Academic Community Teaching Hospital. Its expanded campus includes the state-of-art Michael Lee-Chin & Family Patient Tower, featuring a new Emergency Department, 172 acute inpatient beds, 9 new Operating Rooms and post-anaesthetic care unit to support expanded medical, surgical and outpatient services. JBH is also a partner member of the Burlington Ontario Health Team.

JBH inspires and empowers a culture of caring and this is demonstrated in many ways including our committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our people. For more information, visit www.josephbranthospital.ca.

About the Burlington Ontario Health Team

The Burlington Ontario Health Team (BOHT) is a collaboration of health and social service providers who work together to provide integrated services and supports to meet the healthcare needs of residents in Burlington and surrounding communities. A total of 36 local healthcare organizations support the BOHT as members and collaborators.

As one of the first Ontario Health Teams that the Government of Ontario announced in 2019, the BOHT’s goal is to improve access to care, support prevention of chronic illnesses, and ensure clients have seamless transitions among healthcare and social service providers. At the centre of this new model of care is the patient-primary care provider, the most enduring relationship established within the healthcare system.

For more information visit www.burlingtonoht.ca

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JBH News Release_Travel Safety