SAFETY OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY

FROM MOSQUITOES THIS WET SEASON

As we enter the wet season, the chance of king tides increases. King tides, along with rain, can cause high numbers of saltmarsh mosquitoes to hatch. Saltmarsh mosquitoes are aggressive biters, and their activity usually peaks around dawn and dusk. Council has a program for controlling mosquito breeding on State and Council-owned land. Residents are encouraged to take measures to ensure mosquito breeding does not take place in their backyards. Control the mosquitoes and you will control the disease: › Cover up when outside by wearing long and loose-fitting clothing › Use insect repellent › Light mosquito coils › Check your backyard for any items that hold water and empty them to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

FOR MORE INFO

SCAN CODE OR VISIT

TOWNSVILLE.QLD.GOV.AU

K MOSQUITOES

TIPS ON BEING

FOOD SAFE

Christmas wouldn’t be a celebration without lots of beautiful food to share with family and friends. It is important to remember to maintain good food safety standards to avoid food poisoning.

So how can you protect yourself (and your guests) from food poisoning this Christmas? Check out our tips below:

› Use cooler bags to transport chilled food › Keep drinks in a separate fridge or cooler to where cold food is stored to keep the temperature down › Thaw frozen food in the fridge and make sure it has completely thawed before cooking › Throw food away if you suspect it has been left out of the refrigerator for four hours or more › Store seafood in an airtight container in your fridge › Give your BBQ a good scrub with soapy water › Wash your hands frequently › Wipe down counters and surfaces thoroughly with a food-grade sanitiser › Take extra care when handling high risk foods like cheese, meats and seafood.

FOR MORE INFO

SCAN CODE OR VISIT

TOWNSVILLE.QLD.GOV.AU

K FOOD SAFETY

REDUCE YOUR WASTE

OVER CHRISTMAS

Wrap up your Christmas celebrations this year by making sure you’re recycling right. Here are some tips on how to reduce your waste this festive season.

› Recycle wrapping paper and boxes in your yellow lid recycling bin. › Hard plastic bottles and containers can go in your recycling bin, but soft plastic bags and packets can only be recycled through REDcycle bins found at participating supermarkets.

TIP: Try the scrunch test! If you can scrunch it into a ball, it is soft plastic and not suitable for yellow lid recycling bins. › Glass bottles and jars, steel tins and aluminium cans can go in your recycling bin. › Fruit and vegetable scraps can be composted at home for your garden or placed in your red lid waste bin or green lid waste bin in FOGO trial areas. › Don’t forget to place your bins out for collection by 6am, even on public holidays. › Is your recycling bin overflowing? Take your recycling and other recoverable items to any Council waste facility for

FREE all year round!

FOR MORE INFO

SCAN CODE OR VISIT

TOWNSVILLE.QLD.GOV.AU

K RECYCLE RIGHT

KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE

OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON

Keep your pets safe these holidays by following our helpful tips. › Be careful not to overindulge your pet with rich foods such as Christmas ham or table scraps. Some foods may lead to an upset stomach, diarrhoea or pancreatitis, which can be a life-threatening condition. Fatty foods are also not good for your pet. › Crowds, boisterous children, and loud noises such as fireworks can be stressful to your pets. Provide a quiet place with a familiar blanket and fresh water for your pets to retreat to for some time-out when festivities get too stressful. › Holiday lights look good but be careful of electrical cords that kittens and puppies could chew on. Be sure you have your cords secured and out of the way of sharp teeth and claws to prevent accidental electrocution. › Make sure your pets microchip details are current so that they can be easily reunited with owners if they become lost.

Contact your preferred vet if your pet becomes unwell or injured.

FOR MORE INFO

SCAN CODE TO FOLLOW THE TOWNSVILLE CITY ANIMALS FACEBOOK PAGE