With the long weekend here many of us are heading out into our gardens – opening the cottage – heading out on the boat.
With all of these activities comes the risk of a cut – a scrape or any type of injury.
Sure the risk from a cut may not seem great – but when was the last time you had your tetanus shot.
Mary Lynn Barron — Public Health Nurse with the Grey Bruce Health Unit — heads up the vaccine and preventable disease program.
Barron says tetanus is not just cause – as rumour has it – from a cut on a rusty piece of metal.
Tetanus is a bacteria that forms spores.
The spores can live for many years in dirt, dust and even fecal matter – and Barron says all you need is one spore a point of entry into your body and even a small cut can cause the entry.
Barron says because the risk is always there for tetanus it is important to make sure you have your immunizations up to date.
Barron says the protection against tetanus must be brought up to date in our body every ten years.
She adds if you cannot remember and you end up getting a tetanus shot before your ten years is up – the only mild reaction would be further swelling in the arm where the shot was given.
Barron says the best line of defence with the tetanus is to always wear gloves when working outside – long pants and socks and thick soled shoes.
The health unit offers tetanus shots by booking an appointment calling them (519-376-9420) and there are immunization clinics offered in Owen Sound Tuesdays from 9 AM until 3:30 PM as well as in Walkerton and Port Elgin.
Barron says if you are unsure if you have had a tetanus shot in the last ten years you can just give your doctors office a call or the health unit.