Fall is here, which may mean new routines and different health and safety concerns.
Fall means cooler weather and shorter days. It is the start of cold and flu season and the return to school for kids. Children are back in school or daycare, which can mean new activities and greater exposure to germs.
Learn how to take care of your health, stay active and eat well this fall.
For information about how to help your child stay safe and learn healthy lifestyle habits this school year, visit our Back to school Health Feature.
Find resources for preventing the spread of communicable diseases for students and parents, school staff and school administrators.
Immunizations, also known as vaccinations, help protect you from getting an infectious disease. When you get vaccinated, you help protect others as well. Vaccines are very safe for you and your family. It is much safer to get a vaccine than an infectious disease.
For more information on immunizations, including routine childhood immunizations, travel vaccinations and flu vaccinations, visit the HealthLink BC Immunizations and the B.C. Immunization Schedules pages.
Fall can be a busy season with back-to-school and a change in routine from the summer months. Plan meals and snacks ahead of time to make busy schedules more manageable and mealtimes more enjoyable. Include a variety of nutritious foods and drink plenty of water to support your immune system. This helps keep you healthy during cold and flu season.
Learn about healthy eating this fall:
For additional healthy eating information or advice,call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered dietitian or email a HealthLinkBC dietitian.
Don't let the shorter and cooler days keep you from staying active. Physical activity is a key factor in keeping you and your family healthy:
For more physical activity information or guidance, call 8-1-1 to speak with a qualified exercise professional or email Physical Activity Services.
Respiratory illnesses
Several respiratory viruses are causing illness in B.C. including COVID-19 and influenza (flu). For resources to support you during respiratory illness season including information on vaccines, visit the Handling respiratory illnesses.
Learn what you can do to make sure you stay safe as the temperature drops:
With shorter daylight hours and colder temperatures, you might spend more time indoors. Learn about indoor air quality and how to stay safe:
Regularly test your carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries every 6 months. An easy way to remember this is to change the batteries when you set the clock back (in the fall) or forward (in the spring):
Changes in routine, staying indoors more and getting less physical activity can affect your mental health. Shorter days, especially when we set the clocks back for daylight saving time, mean getting less sunshine. Help is available, find out more:
Pollen, moulds, dust mites and other allergens can cause fall seasonal allergies. Learn about seasonal allergies, including triggers, symptoms and home treatment:
