Weekly edition of Health News with RaeAnn from the Henry and Stark County Health Departments

RaeAnn Tucker joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss fireworks safety, food safety, Men’s Health Month, the 12 in 12 Outreach Event in Stark County, school physicals, and insurance navigators. Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics will be closed Friday, July 3rd, for the Independence Day holiday, with limited home services continuing. RaeAnn Tucker says residents should keep safety in mind for the Fourth, from fireworks to cookouts. Officials urge adults to supervise fireworks, keep sparklers away from children, and never relight duds. Food safety reminders include keeping meat cold, avoiding cross-contamination, and discarding questionable leftovers. First Choice is also offering summer school and sports physicals in Kewanee and Toulon. The next “12 Communities, 12 Months” event is July 24th at the Stark County Junior Fair in Wyoming. More safety information is available at henrystarkhealth.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Health Departments and Clinics Closed July 3, 2026, for Independence Day Holiday

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics will be closed Friday, July 3rd, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. The closure includes clinic locations in Kewanee at 110 North Burr Boulevard, Colona at 103 First Street, and Toulon at 120 East Court Street. Limited home services staff will remain on duty to provide necessary in-home care during the closure. Residents needing more information can contact the nearest location: Kewanee at 309-852-0197, Colona at 309-792-4011, or Toulon at 309-852-3115. Details are also available at henrystarkhealth.com. Updates, health alerts, and service announcements are shared through the Henry and Stark County Health Departments on Facebook, as well as on Twitter and Instagram.

“12 Communities, 12 Months” outreach event on Friday, July 24th

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics will host their July “12 Communities, 12 Months” outreach event on Friday, July 24th, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Stark County Junior Fair in Wyoming, Illinois.

The display will be inside the Concessions Building, offering free disposal of expired or unused home medications, free blood pressure checks, giveaways, and health information. A Get Covered Illinois Insurance Navigator will also be available.

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments are reminding residents to safely dispose of expired or unused medications and sharps during their “12 Communities, 12 Months” promotion and events. Proper disposal helps prevent accidental poisoning, misuse, and environmental contamination. Residents should review the department’s instructions before bringing items, especially needles, syringes, or other sharps, which must be handled safely. Details are available at “Home Medication Disposal Guidelines.” For more information about upcoming “12 Communities, 12 Months” events, call the Health Department at 309-852-0197, visit henrystarkhealth.com, or follow the department on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

RaeAnn Tucker, Director of Health Promotion with the Health Department, said, “We believe this is going to be a wonderful event, as there will be something for everyone interested in getting some great information, taking advantage of free screenings, giveaways, and just partaking in a pleasant time visiting and talking with our staff. The Department and First Choice Healthcare are happy to have this year-long opportunity to showcase the many programs and services available to our area residents and families.”

More information is available at henrystarkhealth.com or by calling 309-852-0197.

Fourth of July Safety tips for fireworks use

With Fourth of July celebrations approaching, the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare are urging families to put safety first. June is Fireworks Safety Month, and officials say misuse of fireworks causes nearly 10,000 injuries each year, most of which occur around Independence Day. Hands, fingers, and eyes are most often hurt, and children under 15 are at greatest risk.

Health officials remind adults to closely supervise all fireworks, including sparklers, which burn hot enough to ignite clothing. Fireworks should be used outdoors, one at a time, away from homes and dry grass. Never relight a dud, and always check local laws before use. More safety information is available at henrystarkhealth.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Here are some other firework safety facts:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Firework directions and warning labels should be read and heeded.
• Fireworks should be ignited only outdoors – away from houses, dry grass and bushes and other flammable materials.
• Fireworks should be lit one-at-a-time after everyone is out of the way.  They should never be lit in metal or glass containers.
• Malfunctioning fireworks should not be relit or handled.
• Never experiment with fireworks, or mix anything with their contents.
• Fireworks should always be stored in a cool, dry place.
• And finally, make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

Food Safety Tips for a Healthy Independence Day Cookout

With Independence Day cookouts ahead, the Henry and Stark County Health Departments are reminding residents to keep food safety on the menu. Officials say meat and poultry should be picked up last at the grocery store, kept cold, and taken home promptly. At home, thaw foods in the refrigerator or microwave — never on the counter. During prep, wash hands, knives, cutting boards, and counters after handling raw meat to prevent cross-contamination. For picnics, pack perishables in ice-filled coolers, keep them shaded, and limit opening. Leftovers should be chilled quickly, and when in doubt, throw them out.

Warm weather meals can bring family and friends together, but health officials warn they can also raise the risk of food poisoning. The Henry and Stark County Health Departments say symptoms often resemble the flu, including headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever, which means cases may go unnoticed. Anyone who suspects food poisoning should contact a health care professional right away. Officials urge residents to use safe food handling before, during, and after summertime meals to keep cookouts and picnics safe. More information is available at henrystarkhealth.com or through the department’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

• When at the grocer’s, choose meat and poultry last. Bag your selections with other cold items and get them home promptly. Don’t leave such food in the car while you run errands. If foods are allowed to get warm, germs and pathogens that are present will begin to multiply.
• Once home, store soon-to-be-used meat and poultry items in the refrigerator in their original store wrapper or rewrap in freezer foil and store in the deep freezer. This will shorten freezing time and also enable them to be thawed more quickly later on by reducing the time needed between thawing and cooking. What’s more, meat and poultry products should never be allowed to thaw at room temperature. Defrosting such items in the refrigerator or microwave is a much safer practice.
• Pay close attention to how foods are prepared for cooking outdoors. Wash all countertops, cutting boards, and knives with hot soapy water before and after using them for raw foods. Such “cross-contamination” could be unhealthy. Always wash hands before and after handling raw meat items.
• When packing up foods for a picnic or outing, place perishable items including hot dogs, cheese and luncheon meats, in a well-insulated cooler and cover with plenty of ice. Keep coolers in the shade and open them only when necessary.
• While it is usually safe to store picnic leftovers in an ice-filled cooler, it’s a good idea to package up remaining foods immediately after the meal is finished. Food items left out at room temperature for three hours or more should be discarded, but those exposed to warmer outside temperatures should be disposed of much sooner. Actually, the best rule to follow is “when in doubt, throw it out.”

School and Sports Physicals Available This Summer in Kewanee and Toulon

School may be out, but the Henry and Stark County Health Departments say now is the time to plan for fall. First Choice Healthcare Clinics are offering school and sports physicals throughout the summer at locations in Kewanee and Toulon. The cash price is $50, with insurance billing also available. Appointments can be made in Kewanee at 309-852-5272 or Toulon at 309-852-3115. Clinics are located at 110 North Burr Boulevard in Kewanee and 120 East Court Street in Toulon. Parents are encouraged to call early and bring completed school forms to reduce wait times. Immunizations, TB checks, lead screenings, and other lab tests are also available for additional fees.

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments are reminding families about upcoming school and sports physical clinics. The clinics are open to area junior high and high school athletes, incoming freshmen, sixth graders, kindergartners, and preschoolers needing required physicals. To help keep wait times down, parents are asked to bring physical forms from their local school district already completed.

The department also notes that certified birth certificate copies for children born in Henry County since 1971 are available at the Health Department office, 110 North Burr Boulevard in Kewanee. Copies cost $13 for the first and $6 for each additional. More details are at henrystarkhealth.com.

Updates are also shared through social media. Search Henry and Stark County Health Departments on Facebook, or follow the departments on Twitter and Instagram for timely announcements.

Free Local Health Insurance Assistance Events in Colona and Geneseo

Need health insurance or help understanding your options? The Henry and Stark County Health Departments, along with the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Program, will offer free local assistance at several upcoming events in Colona and Geneseo. Navigators can help residents compare plans, apply for coverage, check for financial help, and see if they qualify for Medicaid or a Special Enrollment Period after life changes like losing coverage, getting married, having a baby, moving, or turning 26. Stops include Dollar General, 7-Eleven, the Colona Food Pantry, the Henry County Farm Bureau Safety Event, and BJ’s Wine and Spirits. For details, call 309-852-5272.

Colona Dollar General, 901 1st St., Colona, IL
Monday, June 29th
1:00-3:00 pm

Colona 7-Eleven, 412 1st St., Colona, IL
Tuesday, June 30th
1:00-3:00 pm

Colona Food Pantry, 617 8th St., Colona, IL
Wednesday, July 1st
10:00 am-12:00 pm

Henry County Farm Bureau Safety Event, 218 N. State St., Geneseo, IL
Wednesday, July 8th
5:00-7:00 pm

BJs Wine & Spirits, 526 1st St., Colona, IL
Friday, July 10th
2:00-4:00 pm