Weekly edition of public health news with RaeAnn Tucker

RaeAnn Tucker joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to discuss heat safety, firework safety, CPR classes, holiday hours, free radon test kits, and insurance navigators. Henry and Stark County health officials are highlighting several July services for residents. Free radon home test kits are available while supplies last at the Kewanee office, 110 North Burr Boulevard, with no holds. The departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics will also be at the Stark County Junior Fair in Wyoming on July 24th from 10 to 2, offering medication disposal, blood pressure checks, giveaways, and health information. Officials are also urging heat safety as temperatures climb above 90 degrees. Residents should stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity, and check on neighbors and pets. Details: henrystarkhealth.com or 309-852-0197.

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments are offering free radon home test kits during July, while supplies last. The kits, valued at $15, are available only at the Kewanee office at 110 North Burr Boulevard and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with no holds. Twenty kits are being divided among Henry and Stark County service areas, including Stark County, Geneseo-Colona-Orion, Kewanee-Galva-Bishop Hill, and surrounding communities. Health officials say radon is odorless, invisible, and the second-leading cause of lung cancer. For availability, call 309-852-0197. More information is available at henrystarkhealth.com.

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.

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

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics are urging residents to take precautions as summer temperatures rise. Officials warn that heat above 90 degrees can quickly become dangerous, leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke, which requires immediate medical attention. Those most at risk include older adults, young children, people with chronic health conditions, outdoor workers, and anyone without access to cooling. Residents are advised to avoid outdoor activity from noon to 4, drink plenty of water, wear light clothing, use air conditioning when possible, and check on neighbors and pets.

For more heat safety tips, visit henrystarkhealth.com or find Henry and Stark County Health Departments on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To avoid heat-related stress, remember:

• Avoid outdoor activities from noon to 4 pm.
• Use fans or air-conditioners liberally or visit air-conditioned places (shopping malls, libraries, and theaters).
• Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
• Eat small meals and eat more often.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Slow down, stay indoors, and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
• Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors and use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone, or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
• Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat.

The Henry and Stark County Health Department and First Choice Healthcare Clinics are reminding residents that confidential help is available for preventing and treating sexually transmitted infections. Clinics in Kewanee and Toulon offer free condoms, STD testing and treatment for males and females, contraceptive supplies, Hepatitis B and HPV immunizations, counseling, education, referrals, and expedited partner treatment. Health officials say condoms remain the only birth control method that also helps protect against HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis. First Choice accepts Medicaid, insurance, and cash, with sliding-scale fees and possible grant assistance. Appointments: Kewanee, 309-852-5272; Toulon, 309-852-3115.

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare are reminding residents that monthly CPR certification classes are available in Kewanee.

Health officials say CPR training can help people respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies involving infants, children, and adults. The course also covers how to recognize an emergency, what actions to take, and the role of AEDs in the cardiac chain of survival.

Classes are held the fourth Tuesday of each month from 4 to 6 PM at the Health Department offices, 110 North Burr Boulevard in Kewanee. The cost is $45 per participant, with payment and registration due in advance. Call 852-0197, extension 250.

Need health insurance? The Henry and Stark County Health Departments, along with the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Program, will offer free enrollment help at several local events in July. Navigators can help residents find affordable coverage, compare plans, apply for financial help, check Medicaid eligibility, and understand benefits and insurance terms. Stops include Geneseo, Colona, Kewanee, Wyoming, and Coal Valley throughout the month. Residents may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period after major life changes, such as losing coverage, getting married, having a baby, moving, or turning 26. For details or enrollment assistance, call 309-852-5272.

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

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

Splat Ink Tattoos & Piercings, 205 N. Tremont St., Kewanee, IL
Thursday, July 16th
10:00 am-12:00 pm

Stark County Junior Fair, 310 E. Washington St., Wyoming, IL
Friday, July 24th
10:00 am-12:00 pm

Veteran & Senior Fair, The Rock, 302 1st St., Coal Valley, IL
Wednesday, July 29th
9:00 am-12:00 pm