Your spring health guide

Whether you’re looking for ways to perk up your plate or getting back to outdoor play, here are ways to kick-start your spring.

Warmer weather makes spring the perfect time to get outside and get active. You can start with small steps – literally – by taking a walk around your block or neighbourhood. Looking for something more adventurous? Activities such as hiking or rock climbing might be more your speed. Remember to keep safety in mind as you get back to exercising outdoors and enjoying the sunnier days.

• Walk or roll on a trail or park in your community.
  • Read these bike safety tips to keep you and your family safe while biking.
• Participate in a Go By Bike week event.
• Create a scavenger hunt. Write a list of things you want to find such as different types of trees, leaves, mushrooms or pinecones and check them off once you find them.
• Try swimming at a community centre. Many community centres offer free or low-cost public swims.
• If it is too hot, be sure to stay active in cool and shaded spaces. That could be a forest trail, your local community centre or even a walk around the mall.
• Avoid sunburns, which can occur even in mild weather. Learn how to stay safe in the sun and heat as you enjoy the sunnier weather.
• Learn how to avoid, check for and safely remove ticks, which can live in grassy and wooded areas.
• Think about your transportation options and how you can lower your impact on the environment. Is it possible to start taking transit, biking, walking or running to where you need to go?

Get your home ready for extreme weather

Spring is a beautiful time of year! With the changing climate, it can also be a time for unpredictable weather. Use this season to make sure your home and your loved ones are ready for extreme weather.

• Flooding: Flooding can happen in the spring when the snow pack is melting and the province experiences intense rain.
  • Visit our flood planning webpage for resources and information.
• Heat: Start getting ready for summer heat early in the spring. Heatwaves can catch us by surprise.
  • Ensure your home is prepared for heat early in the season, which may mean investing in cooling units and practicing window safety for children to prevent falls from windows and balconies.
• Indoor air quality: Think about how to improve indoor air quality in your home, as this season can bring allergens, such as ragweed and pollen, and outdoor pollutants into your home. Investing in an air filtration unit is best, but if that is not possible, you can make an effective and inexpensive one yourself.
  • Visit our indoor air quality page for more information.

Spring is a great time to re-explore our relationships with fresh, local fruits and vegetables. You may even consider growing your own.

Below are tips on mindful eating and drinking for you and your family this spring.

• Spring into a healthy relationship with food. Read our dietitian-approved tips for a more peaceful relationship with food and your body this season. Also, check out Canada’s Food Guide to find ways to perk up your plate.
• Nutritious meals for less: Healthy eating can be affordable. Read our tips sheet for healthy eating on a budget.
• Look for low-cost food services. Many communities throughout Fraser Health provide free and low-cost food programs. Find them in our free and low-cost food directory.
• Healthy eating starts with your shopping cart. Read these five steps to healthier grocery shopping.

Read more tips below on vaccines, safety around windows and balconies, and more.

• Spring is a great time to make sure you and your family are up-to-date on all of your immunizations. If you are planning to travel, read this advice about travel immunizations.
• Think you might need to increase your water intake? Get advice on how to drink more water daily.
• Concussions can happen to anyone, especially as we get back into sports. Learn how to spot a concussion so you can seek treatment right away.
• Take control of screen time by setting limits and establishing healthy habits for yourself and your family.
• Infographic: Window safety tips to protect kids from falls.

• Take precautions to avoid tick bites
  
• Keeping the roads safe for cyclists
  
• Road safety tips on being a bike-friendly driver
  
• Why cyclists sometimes ride in the middle of the road